A rare first printing of the U.S. Constitution sold at SothebyB次元官网网址檚 in New York for $43.2 million, a record price for a document or book sold at auction.

The anonymous winning bidder at Thursday nightB次元官网网址檚 sale outbid a group of 17,000 cryptocurrency enthusiasts from around the world who crowdfunded to buy it over the last week.

The document offered for sale was one of 13 known copies of the first printing of the Constitution and one of only two in private hands.

This printing of the Constitution was last sold in 1988, when real estate developer and collector S. Howard Goldman bought it at auction for $165,000.

Proceeds from ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 sale will benefit a foundation established by GoldmanB次元官网网址檚 widow, Dorothy Tapper Goldman, to further the understanding of constitutional principles.

B次元官网网址淭onightB次元官网网址檚 sale of this exceptionally rare and important printing of the Constitution was a monumental and historic occasion,B次元官网网址� Selby Kiffer, SothebyB次元官网网址檚 senior international specialist for books and manuscripts, said in a statement.

Kiffer said the auction result reflects how relevant the Constitution remains, B次元官网网址渘ot only in America but for global democracy.B次元官网网址�

The underbidder was ConstitutionDAO, which announced its plan to raise millions of dollars to buy the Constitution on Twitter on Nov. 12. DAO stands for decentralized autonomous organization, a type of community-run business that operates on the blockchain.

, B次元官网网址淲e showed the world what crypto and web3, onboarding thousands of people in the process, including museum curators and art directors who are now excited to keep learning.B次元官网网址�

The group added, B次元官网网址淲e were the first DAO Sothebys has ever worked with, but weB次元官网网址檙e sure we wonB次元官网网址檛 be the last one.B次元官网网址�

The previous auction record for a book or manuscript was set in 1994 when Bill Gates purchased the Codex Leicester by Leonardo da Vinci at ChristieB次元官网网址檚 for $30.8 million.

B次元官网网址擪aren Matthews, The Associated Press