A yellowed, rolled-up document bought for $2.48 at a Music City Thrift Store in Nashville sold for $477,650 at auction after it was confirmed as a very rare 1823 official copy of the United States Declaration of Independence.
asserted
it → yellow → Independence
The document was bought in March 2006 by Michael Sparks, a music equipment technician, as reported by the Associated Press through WIS-TV.
asserted
document → buy → TV
While looking around the store for household items, he noticed the rolled-up manuscript.
asserted
he → look → manuscript
It turned out to be one of only 200 official copies commissioned by John Quincy Adams in the 1820s.
asserted
It → turn → 1820s
The print was auctioned in Burlington, North Carolina, and sold for far more than expected.
asserted
print → auction → more
Bidding at Raynors' Historical Collectible Auctions started at $125,000 before rising to the final sale price of $477,650.
asserted
Bidding → start → 477,650
According to a report by the Deseret News, Sparks was making his usual weekly visit to the Music City Thrift Store when he picked up a candelabra, a set of salt and pepper shakers, and the rolled document.
uncertain
he → accord → shakers
Store manager Kay Boner said that $2.48 was simply the standard price for an item like this at the time.
asserted
2.48 → say → time
Sparks often searched second-hand stores for interesting historical items.
asserted
Sparks → search → items
He thought the print might be older than a regular modern souvenir.
uncertain
print → think → souvenir
He took it home and spent months carefully researching it to find out where it came from.
asserted
it → take → where
"I was thinking: 'Good grief, could this be an original?'" Sparks told the Associated Press.
uncertain
Sparks → think → Press
His research confirmed that he had found an authentic "Stone print" of the Declaration of Independence.
asserted
he → confirm → Independence
It was named after the engraver William J. Stone.
asserted
It → name → engraver
Commissioned to preserve history
By 1820, the original 1776 parchment of the Declaration of Independence was quickly wearing out because of handling and exposure to light.
asserted
parchment → commission → light
John Quincy Adams, who was Secretary of State at the time, asked Stone to make an exact copy of the document.
asserted
who → ask → document
Stone spent three years making an engraved copperplate of the Declaration.
asserted
Stone → spend → Declaration
In 1823, Congress ordered 200 official copies to be printed on vellum for surviving signers, government leaders, and official institutions.
asserted
copies → order → signers
Before Sparks found his copy, historians knew where only 35 of those original 200 copies were located.
asserted
35 → find → copies
His discovery became the 36th known surviving copy.
asserted
discovery → become → ?
Because it had been so well preserved, expert appraisers estimated that it could be worth much more than other copies that had previously appeared on the market.
uncertain
that → preserve → market
Just two days before Sparks bought the document, the print had been hanging in a garage only a short drive away.
asserted
print → buy → garage
Nashville resident Stan Caffy had kept the document on his garage wall for ten years after buying it at a yard sale for $10.
asserted
Caffy → keep → 10
When Caffy's wife asked him to clean out the garage and get rid of unwanted items, Caffy reluctantly donated the document to the Music City Thrift Store along with other household clutter.
asserted
Caffy → ask → clutter
Caffy later said he was happy for Sparks, even though he had missed out on the money.
asserted
he → say → money
He said he was glad the document had ended up with someone who recognized its true historical importance.
asserted
who → say → importance
Life after the hammer falls
After the auction, Sparks reflected on his sudden windfall.
asserted
Sparks → fall → windfall
Although the sale greatly changed his financial situation, he kept a realistic view of the final amount after taxes and commission.
asserted
he → change → taxes
Speaking to the Associated Press after the auction, Sparks said: "You think it is a huge fortune, but by the time you figure it up and put some off for the taxes it is not.
asserted
it → speak → taxes
Auctioneers confirmed that the winning bid came from an anonymous buyer who took part by telephone.
asserted
who → confirm → telephone
The sale became one of the most valuable thrift store discoveries recorded in American history.
asserted
sale → become → history
The Aporia
