Ken Griffin reveals $18M Lincoln document purchases

Billionaire hedge fund manager Kenneth Griffin revealed Monday that he was the anonymous buyer behind record-breaking purchases of two Abraham Lincoln-signed documents that sold last week at Sotheby's, paying a combined $18.1 million for copies of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment.

The Citadel CEO's latest acquisitions continue his methodical assembly of foundational American documents as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, adding to a collection that already includes a first-edition Constitution purchased for $43.2 million in 2021.

Record-Breaking Civil War Documents

The 13th Amendment copy, which abolished slavery, shattered expectations by selling for $13.7 million—more than five times the previous record of $2.4 million set in 2016. The Emancipation Proclamation brought $4.4 million, exceeding the previous high of $3.8 million from 2010.Artnet

"Since our founding, America has been on a journey to form a more perfect union," Griffin said in a statement Monday. "The Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment marked a profound step forward, abolishing the scourge of slavery and advancing the ideal that all people are created equal".Artnet

The 13th Amendment copy represents extraordinary rarity—one of only 15 recorded manuscript copies signed by Lincoln and among just nine bearing signatures from both the president and the senators and congressmen who passed it for ratification. Only four such copies remain in private hands.Artnet

Pattern of Historic Acquisitions

Griffin's document collecting has accelerated alongside his art purchases, which include a $500 million deal in 2015 for Willem de Kooning and Jackson Pollock paintings. Last month, he donated $15 million to the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and agreed to loan his Constitution and a first-edition Bill of Rights for public display through 2026.Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.+1

"Each generation must experience the sacred documents of our democracy—to learn from them and be inspired to carry our country forward," Griffin said.Artnet

The purchases also reflect a broader surge in prices for American founding documents. Selby Kiffer, international senior specialist in Sotheby's books and manuscripts department, noted the "enduring resonance of these texts and the impact they continue to have on our national consciousness".Artnet

Market and Historical Context

Griffin's document acquisitions come as he has emerged as one of the nation's most prominent collectors, with an art portfolio valued near $800 million. He has also donated over $2 billion to charities through his Griffin Catalyst foundation.Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.

The Lincoln documents were originally produced for fundraising—the Emancipation Proclamation copies sold for $10 each in 1864 to benefit Union soldiers' medical care. Today, just 27 of the original 48 copies are known to exist.Artnet