This clipped signature of Button Gwinnett carries an estimate of $60,000-$80,000 and will sell on Saturday, September 9. Image courtesy of Rbfinearts and LiveAuctioneers.
TAVARES, Fla. – The signature of the Savannah, Georgia politician Button Gwinnett (1735-1777) is the ultimate in American autograph collecting. Dead at the age of 42 following a duel in 1777, he was the one signer of the Declaration of Independence who left precious little paperwork to posterity. As only 52 examples of his signature are known, there can only be 52 complete sets of signatures of all 56 delegates to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia.
Since 1980, only six examples of Gwinnett’s signature have been offered at auction, selling for more than $100,000 on each occasion. The seventh example, which will appear at Rbfinearts on Saturday, September 9, is estimated at $60,000-$80,000. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.