Christie's to auction Jim Irsay's American history collection

In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States, Christie's is set to auction approximately 70 items from the Jim Irsay Collection. Among the pieces are a stone engraving of the Declaration of Independence from 1823, a unique broadside from 1777 announcing the first Thanksgiving, and a letter from George Washington to Thomas Jefferson that includes a copy of the Constitution. Additionally, the auction features items linked to Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, as well as first editions of Mark Twain's Tom Sawyer. Jim Irsay, the former owner and CEO of the Indianapolis Colts, was also a noted philanthropist.