Thomas Jefferson-signed first census up for auction

31 March 2010
Thomas Jefferson bust.  Photo via Huffington Post.

click to enlarge

Thomas Jefferson bust. Photo via Huffington Post.

A first edition of the first U.S. census signed by Thomas Jefferson in 1791 will be offered at Sotheby's in New York City on April 14.

The 56-page document lists the population for the nation's 13 states and Southwest Territory. It's expected to fetch $50,000 to $70,000.

Only two other 1791 census copies signed by Jefferson have been auctioned since 1975. A manuscripts specialist at Sotheby's estimates that as few as 200 copies were printed but says not all were signed by Jefferson.




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