Stamp Act Defiance Placard to Auction with $6m Estimate

Christie’s' January 17 Fine Printed and Manuscript Americana sale will feature a selection of rare pieces documenting some of the most important events in American history, from the earliest days of the American Revolution to the closing days of the Civil War.

It is led by The Stamp Act Defiance Placard, the earliest known documentary evidence of popular revolt against Great Britain in the American colonies and the first explicit threat of violence in the defense of American liberty. One of two versions of this document extant, this is the only example in private hands of this rare, handwritten document of the American Revolution. The estimate is $4m-$6m.

        
Other highlights include:

• President James Buchanan's six-page autograph manuscript of March 1, 1861,  defending his decision to call troops to protect the nation's capital during the counting of electoral votes from the election of 1860 and the inauguration of his successor, Abraham Lincoln (estimate: $150,000-200,000)
• The earliest record of Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox, an autograph letter across four pages to Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, dated April 9, 1865 (estimate: $600,000-800,000)
• James Buchanan’s copy of the Louisiana Ordinance of Secession, 1861 - less than three months after Abraham Lincoln is elected President, Louisiana becomes the sixth of 11 states to leave the Union. This hand-written document belonged to President Buchanan and is a formal instrument of secession (estimate: $200,000-300,000)