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Announcement that the Constitution has been created...



Item # 680368

September 18, 1787

THE PENNSYLVANIA PACKET & DAILY ADVERTISER, Philadelphia, September 18, 1787 

* First announcement that the Constitution of the United States has been finalized

* In regards to historic announcements in U.S. history, this is rivaled only by the announcement that the Declaration of Independence had been signed


A singularly historic newspaper. As collectors know the very first newspaper to print the United States Constitution was this title of the next day, September 19, 1787. As such it has an auction record in excess of $200,000.
This is the newspaper from the day prior which is very likely the very first announcement that the Constitution has been finalized and will now be sent to the various states for ratification.
The report--set in larger type than found in the other news reports in this newspaper--is at the top of the first column of page 3 and reads: "We have the heart-felt pleasure to inform our fellow citizens that the Federal Convention adjourned yesterday, having completed the object of their deliberations--And we hear that Major W. Jackson, the secretary of that honorable body, leaves this city for New York, this morning, in order to lay the great result of their proceeds before the United States in Congress."
As this report reads, the news that the Constitution work had been completed was printed in this newspaper before members of Congress, held in New York at that time, were even aware.
It could be argued that the printing of the Constitution in the next day's issue of the "Pennsylvania Packet" was not "news" other than the text of the document. It was this newspaper report in the September 18 issue which reported the "news" that the Constitution was completed.
An exceedingly significant and historic newspaper. Complete in four pages, never-trimmed margins, and in excellent condition.

Category: American