An original Thomas Paine pamphlet unearthed by a Clifton Park family while cleaning out an attic was put up for auction on November 25 in New York City, and ended up the subject of a six-figure winning bid.
Peggy Labarr and her family came upon a box labeled “for the dumpster” last year when cleaning out her late father’s attic in Clifton Park. Luckily, she did not take the label at its word but checked the contents for herself.
Inside the box was a pamphlet in what appeared to be pristine condition. Titled ‘The American Crisis’ and with a copyright date of 1776, the Labarr family had just found an original work of Thomas Paine, a famous American pamphleteer and patriot. A meeting with document appraiser Mark Lawson confirmed the authenticity of the item and provided a brief history.
As brochure printers can testify, the printed word is a powerful force; this essay of Paine's is widely believed to have brought about a turning point in the American Revolution.
The Continental Army was in bad shape in the winter 1776, when the American Crisis was read to the assembled Continental Army by order of General George Washington on December 23, four days after Labarr’s copy was printed, to inspire them not to give up.
Swann Auction Galleries handled the sale and started the bidding at $65,000 with Labarr, her sister, and both of their families on hand. The final bid was an impressive $100,000.
