Goldin Opens USA 250th Anniversary Historical Auction, Led by Original 1776 Declaration of Independence Broadside

June 2, 2026 – Goldin, an internationally recognized auction house known for rare and record-breaking collectible sales, today opened its USA 250th Anniversary Historical Auction. Celebrating the country’s semiquincentennial, the auction presents a curated collection of historically significant artifacts tracing the full arc of American identity – from the nation’s founding to the modern era.

The auction is anchored by a July 1776 Exeter Broadside copy of the Declaration of Independence, one of only ten surviving copies of this specific edition and one of two Exeter broadsides to appear on the auction block in over a century. Printed in Exeter, New Hampshire, by publisher Robert Luist Fowle in the immediate wake of the Declaration's signing, the broadside circulated the principles of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness across the colonies. The offered copy is of the esteemed Goodspeed-Sang-Streeter provenance, treated by Washington Conservation Studio in 2025, and presented in a 32-by-36-inch framed display with every word of Jefferson's founding missive remaining entirely legible 250 years later.

Founding Era material in the auction further includes a Nov. 12, 1776, George Washington-signed letter penned at a pivotal moment in the Revolutionary War, beseeching Colonel Daniel Hitchcock to raise capable officers for the Continental Army. Also featured is a 1795-1804 Alexander Hamilton Handwritten, Twice-Signed Law Ledger Presented to the New York Law Institute, a remarkable document in the hand of one of the nation's most consequential Founding Fathers, spanning nearly a decade of Hamilton's legal career. A Feb. 6, 1783, first official act implementing the Peace Treaty signed by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay that ended the American Revolution bears the intact red wax seals of all three Founding Fathers, and a Feb. 12, 1786, Benjamin Franklin handwritten letter articulates the philosophical basis of American independence.

The presidential thread of the auction is further deepened by a trio of single-signed baseballs from three commanders-in-chief: a Herbert Hoover Single-Signed OAL Cronin Baseball, a Harry Truman Single-Signed OAL Cronin Baseball, and a Dwight D. Eisenhower Single-Signed OAL Harridge Baseball, together representing a rare grouping of presidential signatures on one of America's most enduring symbols.

Highlighting pivotal moments throughout American history, the auction extends well into the 20th century. Dated August 2nd, 1939, an Albert Einstein-signed letter to President Franklin D. Roosevelt urging the development of the United States' nuclear program is included. A D.B. Cooper ransom banknote fragment, considered a Holy Grail of collecting as one of the only physical pieces ever tied to the infamous 1971 skyjacking, represents an American mystery of the modern era. A 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth Signed Card connects the nation's pastime to one of its most iconic cultural figures, while a Bob Ross-painted U.S. bomber jacket circa 1980 offers collectors an artifact connected to one of the most recognizable names in American popular culture.

The auction also includes a Berlin Wall "Iron Curtain" Concrete "Go" Section Monument, measuring 12 by 4 by 8 feet and weighing 6,000 pounds, one of the most physically commanding artifacts of the Cold War era ever offered at public auction.

Rounding out the sale with a modern sports dimension are a Jan. 5, 2026, Stephen Curry Game-Used, Photo-Matched, Twice-Signed, Inscribed Nike Kobe 4 Protro "Gold Medal" Sneakers, worn during a 27-point performance and accompanied by a Letter of Provenance from the Stephen Curry Collection, and a Feb. 18, 2026, Olympic Quarterfinals Dylan Larkin Game-Used Nike Team USA Hockey Jersey from the gold medal-winning United States Olympic hockey team.

Part of “Goldin’s Summer of Greatness,” the USA 250th Anniversary Historical Auction is now open for bidding at Goldin.com from June 2 to July 8, with extended bidding beginning at 10:00 p.m. ET.

With a superb summer slate, Goldin is the go-to destination across entertainment, sports, and history this season. 

Additional ongoing and upcoming auctions include the Vintage Star Wars Auction, open through June 3; the May Elite Auction, open through June 6; the Global Football Auction, open through June 13; the Combat Sports Auction, open through June 15; and the Goldin 100, open through June 28.

Founded in 2012 by Ken Goldin - star of the hit Netflix series King of Collectibles: The Goldin Touch - Goldin is a globally recognized leader in trading cards, collectibles, and memorabilia. Now an eBay company, Goldin is the premier destination for high-end items across sports, pop culture, entertainment, and history. The company has surpassed $1 billion in total sales, with Ken Goldin personally responsible for more than $2 billion over his decades-long career. Trusted by both seasoned collectors and new hobbyists, Goldin routinely breaks records for the most valuable memorabilia ever sold. It is the official auction partner of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association, and Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum. To consign items, visit sell@goldin.co. Learn more at Goldin.com, and on Instagram and X.