First Printing of the Constitution , Sells at Auction for , Record-Breaking $43.2 Million.br At a November 18 auction, a rare first printing of the br United States Constitution sold for $43.2 million, a record amount for any document or book sold at auction. .br At a November 18 auction, a rare first printing of the br United States Constitution sold for $43.2 million, a record amount for any document or book sold at auction. .br ABC reports that the historic document was sold at Sotheby's in New York to an anonymous bidder. .br The unknown winner of the auction br outbid a group of 17,000 people who br crowdfunded to buy it over the last week. .br According to ABC, the rare document was br one of just 13 first printings of the Constitution. .br It is also one of only two held by private individuals. .br The printing was last sold in 1988 to real estate developer S. Howard Goldman for $165,000. .br ABC reports that proceeds from the record-breaking sale will benefit a foundation established to further the understanding of constitutional principles. .br The foundation was established by Goldman's widow, Dorothy Tapper Goldman. .br Tonight’s sale of this exceptionally br rare and important printing of the br Constitution was a monumental br and historic occasion, Selby Kiffer, Sotheby’s senior international br specialist for books and manuscripts, via ABC.br The previous record for a book or manuscript br sold at auction was set in 1994 by Bill Gates.br At a Christie's auction, Gates purchased the 'Codex Leicester' by Leonardo da Vinci for $30.