Ben Franklin Book Sells at Auction for $556,500

Posted on June 10, 2009

An authentic copy of Ben Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanac sold at auction at Sotheby's for $556,500, which is the second highest price ever paid for a book printed in America (the highest price was for a copy of George Washington's copy of The Federalist Papers which went for $1.4 million). The 1773 volume was found by the members of the Berwick Historical Society in the archives. They had no idea it would turn out to be so valuable. The members of the society are celebrating after the large final auction price.

Today reports that Selby Kiffer, an authority on American historical documents, says, "It's like finding a fossil in its matrix. It's a cliche to say something is once in a lifetime until you have an opportunity like this."

The purchaser chose to remain anonymous, so it is most likely in the hands of a private collector now. The money has gone into the endowment fund of the historical society, which is planning on renovating the town's 1860s-era city hall and for the purchase of a World War II Stuart light tank, many of which were made locally.