NEW YORK — Christie’s is marking the 250th anniversary of the United States with the next chapter in what has already been a record-breaking series of sales. The Jim Irsay Collection: Icons of History is the latest group of objects from the meticulously compiled personal collection of the late philanthropist, owner, and CEO of the Indianapolis Colts.
The sale includes nearly 70 incredible, rare objects that document many transformative moments in the nation’s history, spanning its birth to the dawn of the 21st Century.
Highlights include the monumental 1823 stone engraving of the Declaration of Independence, an extremely rare broadside proclaiming the first Thanksgiving in 1777, a letter from George Washington to Thomas Jefferson transmitting a copy of the Constitution for his review, several personal and historic objects connected to Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, first editions of Mark Twain’s Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, reserve notes for $5,000, $10,000 and other rare bills, autographed photos, documents, books and more from historic figures such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Susan B. Anthony, Albert Einstein, Harry Houdini, and Teddy Roosevelt, posters and pennants from key elections and historic moments, such as the 1963 March on Washington, and much more.
A live auction will take place on July 1, and a free public exhibition of the trove of rare artifacts from American history will be held before the sale, from June 25 to 30, at Christie’s New York, 20 Rockefeller Plaza.
This sale, valued at approximately $6 million, is the next installment in The Jim Irsay Collection Series, with the first four happening in March of this year. Nearly 400 items that traced the 20th Century’s pivotal moments in music, film, sports, and pop culture totaled $95.5 million, setting a world record for a memorabilia auction, breaking multiple records at Christie’s New York and underscoring Mr. Irsay’s brilliance as a collector.
“Our dad was a passionate collector, driven not by possession, but by a profound appreciation for the beauty, history, and cultural resonance of the items he curated,” said Irsay’s three daughters, Carlie Irsay-Gordon, Casey Foyt, and Kalen Jackson, in a statement. “He considered himself a steward of the collection, not its owner.
“He loved acquiring important items from American history and was especially inspired by great leaders, great moments, and great stories. From rare artifacts to original manuscripts to signed historical documents, each piece tells a story about America, and he was always so excited to share them with the world.
“As we mark the 250th anniversary of the United States this year, this next phase of the auction is a celebration of these American stories. We look forward to these artifacts finding new stewards who will protect and preserve them for the future and continue to share the stories they represent.”
A portion of the proceeds of these sales will be donated to philanthropic causes supported by Jim Irsay during his lifetime.
Collection Highlights
A pennant in yellow, black and white, bearing the slogans: “Civil Rights Now!” with a yellow crown in the black field. And “MARCH ON WASHINGTON AUGUST 28, 1963.” Felt pennant, 230 x 755mm. Blank on verso
Estimate: $500-800
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America. [Washington:] W. I. Stone for the Department of State, 4 July 1823. Copperplate engraving (698 x 706mm), printed on fine parchment. Framed.
Estimate: $2,000,000-3,000,000
A PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY RUSH-SEAT OAK ROCKING CHAIR
Estimate: $300,000-600,000
A BEAVER FELT TOP HAT, SIZE 7 3/8, WITH CREAM SILK LINING, WITH GILT LETTERING “HARRY S. TRUMAN” ON INTERIOR HAT BAND. C. 1949
Estimate: $10,000-15,000
WASHINGTON, George (1732-1799). Autograph letter signed (“Go: Washington”) to Thomas Jefferson, Minister to France, sending the first official printed Constitution
Estimate: $1,000,000-2,500,000
A UNITED STATES ARMY SNARE DRUM DATED 1862, painted ‘Reg. U.S. Infantry’ (on one side), 16½ in. high, 16½ in. diameter
Estimate: $3,000-5,000
SPECIAL PRINT PUBLICATION
To celebrate this landmark occasion, a special edition catalogue of the Icons of History sale will be published to accompany the auction.
A SPECIAL AUCTION OF PROPERTY FROM VARIOUS OWNERS ACCOMPANIES THIS SALE
America at 250: Important Artifacts and Documents of History spans the Revolutionary era to the present.
