Key Takeaways
- • Ken Griffin, billionaire Citadel founder, acquired a second original 1787 Constitution printing, known as the Van Sinderen copy, through a private sale for an undisclosed amount, completing ownership of the only two copies remaining in private hands.
- • Griffin's first Constitution purchase in 2021 set a record at $43.2 million at Sotheby's, outbidding a cryptocurrency collective; only 14 of approximately 500 original printings survive today, with 12 held by institutions.
- • The newly acquired Van Sinderen copy will be publicly displayed starting May 27, 2026, at the South Street Seaport Museum in Lower Manhattan to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence, while Griffin's first copy remains on view at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
- • The acquisition reflects Griffin's strategic positioning as a major collector of irreplaceable American historical artifacts, with both documents now committed to public exhibition rather than private vault storage.
Summary
Ken Griffin has secured ownership of the only two original printings of the U.S. Constitution known to remain in private hands through a private sale announced Monday, May 5, 2026. The newly acquired copy, historically known as the Van Sinderen copy after a previous owner, was listed for auction at Sotheby's in December 2022. The purchase price was not disclosed.
This acquisition represents Griffin's second Constitution purchase. In 2021, the Citadel founder paid $43.2 million at Sotheby's for a first printing, setting a record for the highest auction price ever achieved for a book, manuscript, or historic document. That acquisition notably saw Griffin outbid a cryptocurrency collective of nearly 17,000 participants, underscoring the intense demand for authentic copies of the founding document.
The scarcity of surviving originals cannot be overstated. Of approximately 500 copies originally printed in Philadelphia in September 1787 for distribution to Constitutional Convention delegates, only 14 are known to survive today. Twelve of these are held by institutions, making Griffin's ownership of both privately held copies exceptionally rare. Such documents have come to public auction only a handful of times in the past two centuries.
Griffin has committed both copies to public exhibition, signaling a philanthropic approach to stewardship rather than private sequestration. His first acquisition is already on display at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. The Van Sinderen copy will open to the public on May 27, 2026, at the South Street Seaport Museum in Lower Manhattan, timed to the nation's 250th anniversary celebration. In a statement, Griffin emphasized the Constitution's significance as "one of humanity's greatest achievements," framing the public access initiative as a means for the next generation to engage with foundational American principles.
This acquisition represents Griffin's second Constitution purchase. In 2021, the Citadel founder paid $43.2 million at Sotheby's for a first printing, setting a record for the highest auction price ever achieved for a book, manuscript, or historic document. That acquisition notably saw Griffin outbid a cryptocurrency collective of nearly 17,000 participants, underscoring the intense demand for authentic copies of the founding document.
The scarcity of surviving originals cannot be overstated. Of approximately 500 copies originally printed in Philadelphia in September 1787 for distribution to Constitutional Convention delegates, only 14 are known to survive today. Twelve of these are held by institutions, making Griffin's ownership of both privately held copies exceptionally rare. Such documents have come to public auction only a handful of times in the past two centuries.
Griffin has committed both copies to public exhibition, signaling a philanthropic approach to stewardship rather than private sequestration. His first acquisition is already on display at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. The Van Sinderen copy will open to the public on May 27, 2026, at the South Street Seaport Museum in Lower Manhattan, timed to the nation's 250th anniversary celebration. In a statement, Griffin emphasized the Constitution's significance as "one of humanity's greatest achievements," framing the public access initiative as a means for the next generation to engage with foundational American principles.
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