Infamously scarce Button Gwinnett signature could top $80K at Rbfinearts, Sept. 9

Detail of a clipped Button Gwinnett signature, which carries an estimate of $60,000-$80,000. Image courtesy of Rbfinearts and LiveAuctioneers.
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.

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.

Continue reading

Declaration of Independence signers collection purchased for $1.4M

Portrait of Button Gwinnett, the signer of the Declaration of Independence whose signature is the scarcest of all.
Left, an exceptionally scarce Button Gwinnett-signed document from a set of signatures representing every signer of the Declaration of Independence, which dealer John Reznikoff purchased for $1.4 million; Right, a portrait of Gwinnett. Images courtesy of University Archives
Left, an exceptionally scarce Button Gwinnett-signed document from a set of signatures representing every signer of the Declaration of Independence, which dealer John Reznikoff purchased for $1.4 million; Right, a portrait of Gwinnett.

WILTON, Conn. – If the name Button Gwinnett doesn’t ring a bell, you’re in good company. Many American history buffs might not recognize the name, either. Unremarkable as he was, Gwinnett’s rare signature on a document that was purchased recently for $1.4 million completed an autograph collection of all signatories of the Declaration of Independence. The buyer was dealer John Reznikoff, who is also president of the University Archives auction house.

Continue reading

Set representing all Declaration of Independence signatories at Heritage, June 25

Complete collection of autographs from the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, est. $1.4 million-$2.1 million. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions

 

Complete collection of autographs from the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, est. $1.4 million-$2.1 million. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions
Complete collection of autographs from the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, est. $1.4 million-$2.1 million. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions

DALLAS – On June 25, Heritage will present The Founding Fathers’ Fight for Liberty and the Birth of a New Nation – Part I Manuscripts Signature® Auction, including a complete set of signers of the Declaration of Independence. Only a handful of complete sets have been offered at auction in the past century, with the last crossing the block a decade ago. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

Continue reading