George Washington's copy of US constitution sells for $9.8m

Portrait of George Washington, whose personal copy of the US Constitution and Bill of Rights fetched $9.8m at auction. Photograph: Stock Montage/Getty Images

George Washington's personal copy of the US constitution and bill of rights sold for $9.8m (£6.3m) at auction on Friday, setting a record for any American book or historic document.

Bidders at Christie's New York salesroom and others on the telephone competed for the first US president's signed, gold-embossed volume dating to 1789, which had a pre-sale estimate of up to $3m.

The non-profit Mount Vernon Ladies Association of the Union, which maintains the historic Mount Vernon estate in Virginia that was Washington's home and is now open to the public, was the successful bidder.

"The unique book had been in the Mount Vernon library until 1876, and will soon be returned to that library," said Chris Coover, senior specialist of books and manuscripts at Christie's.

The bound volume was Washington's personal copy of the Acts of Congress and is noteworthy for his bold signature marking it as his own.

The Acts of Congress include the Constitution, whose preamble promises to "secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity," and the Bill of Rights, the first 10 amendments to the constitution, which establish such fundamental liberties as the right to free speech, press, assembly and religion.

Christie's described the book as being in near-pristine condition after 223 years. It was specially printed for Washington in 1789, his first year in office as president.

The margins include Washington's handwritten brackets and notations highlighting key passages concerning the president's responsibilities.

The Acts of Congress volume was sold from Washington's library at Mt Vernon in 1876 and eventually bought at auction by collector Richard Dietrich in the 1960s. It was being sold by the family's estate.

Similar volumes created for Thomas Jefferson, the first secretary of state and third US president, and attorney general John Jay, are in Indiana's Lilly Library and a private collection, respectively.

Rare books and manuscripts have achieved impressive prices in recent years.

An autographed manuscript of Lincoln's 1864 election victory speech sold for $3.4m in February 2009, which set a record for an American manuscript at the time. A 1787 letter written from Washington to his nephew on the subject of the ratification of the Constitution fetched $3.2m in December 2009.

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ASTON MARTIN ONE-77

performance@holmesandco-london.com

ASTON MARTIN ONE-77

 

Car No.40 of 77 Made.

 

The Client is seeking 1.2 Million Sterling for the Car.

 

The Cars were originally sold by Aston Martin for 1Million, plus costs.

 

Equivalent cars are available for 2 Million Sterling – 2.7 Million Dollars.

 

We are Offering the Car at 1.4 Million, but it should be considerably more.

 

Our Client wishes for the Sale to be Confidential, and approaching clients will need to provide documents

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Entitled "Cock and Bull," this showpiece by British artist Damien Hirst towers above diners at Tramshed, which only serves chicken and steak.

DAMIEN HIRST

Entitled "Cock and Bull," this showpiece by British artist Damien Hirst towers above diners at Tramshed, which only serves chicken and steak.

Internationally renowned British artist Damien Hirst has created an art piece for a London restaurant in which a whole Hereford cow and cockerel are preserved in formaldehyde in a steel and glass tank, smack dab in the middle of the dining room.

Called "Cock and Bull," the showpiece towers above diners at Tramshed which -- surprise -- serves only steak and whole roasted chicken.

Like a giant aquarium mounted on a TV stand, the art installation is an extension of Hirst's Natural History, a collection of preserved animals he's been creating since 1991 -- arguably his most famous series. Hirst also created a painting for the restaurant opening entitled "Beef and Chicken" which hangs on the mezzanine level and depicts the 1990s cartoon characters "Cow and Chicken."

In the basement level, the Cock ‘n' Bull gallery showcases a rotating art exhibit every six weeks. The first exhibition Quantum Jumping features art work themed around "jumping into a parallel dimension," and runs until July 1.

The classically British menu by chef and restaurateur Mark Hix, meanwhile, is conducive to family-style dining with whole roasted, free-range chickens or marbled sirloin steaks, both served with fries. Appetizers include Yorkshire pudding with whipped chicken livers, cauliflower salad, and smoked Cornish mackerel with beets and horseradish.

It's not unusual for restaurants to house the collections of famous and interesting artists, given the synergy between food and ambiance. Pierre Gagnaire's eponymous restaurant, in Paris, for instance, houses works from the Galerie Lelong, while Wolfgang Puck has also turned his restaurant space into an exhibit for a roster of rotating artists at his CUT steakhouse in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile, restaurants like Eric Ripert's Le Bernardin in New York, Jason Atherton's Pollen Street Social in London and Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Spice Market in London have been shortlisted in the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards this year.

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Monaco prince puts classic cars up for auction

This probably isn't the Beetle owned by the Prince. Vroom vroom.

Image: Jamiecat via Flickr/Creative Commons

PRINCE ALBERT II of Monaco is auctioning off part of the luxury car collection started by his father Prince Rainier III, with vehicles by Bentley, Panhard and Porsche among those up for sale.

Forty vehicles will be available at an auction on 26 July at Prince Albert’s car museum in Monaco. The cars are being sold due to a “comprehensive reorganisation” of the collection, auction house Artcurial Motorcars said in a press release.

The cars have no reserve price. A Mercedes 500 SEC, the personal car of Prince Rainier, is estimated to fetch between €15,000 and €25,000.

Among the oldest cars is a 1913 Panhard X19, valued at between €25,000 and €35,000 euro, while a rare 1925 Citroen cabriolet 5HP is expected to bring in about €15,000.

Besides the flashier offers, other more common vehicles are also included in the sale, such as Fiat 500, Honda Civic and a Volkswagen Beetle, valued at entry prices from €3,000.

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Edward Burtynsky Photographs Farming in Monegros Spain

© Edward Burtynsky, courtesy Flowers, London Dryland Farming #13, Monegros County, Aragon, Spain, 2010

Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky is having a London moment. Not only are his familiar works on the oil crisis on view but he is also exhibiting a new series examining the impact of long-term farming in Monegros, Spain.

© Edward Burtynsky, courtesy Flowers, London Dryland Farming #21, Monegros County, Aragon, Spain, 2010

These photographs are looking at the tradition of dryland farming carried out over many generations in the north-eastern part of Spain. It's an agricultural region where the land is semi-arid, sparsely populated and prone to both droughts and high winds. The land is made up of sedimentary rock, gypsum, and clay-rich soil. The photographs show the impact of these conditions, as well as man's expanding foot print.

© Edward Burtynsky, courtesy Flowers, London Dryland Farming #8, Monegros County, Aragon, Spain, 2010

Burtynsky is shooting the photos from a helicopter, two thousand feet up: so high that there are almost no details to be identified. The topography looks like an abstract painting.

© Edward Burtynsky, courtesy Flowers, London Dryland Farming #27, Monegros County, Aragon, Spain, 2010

Despite a scarcity of water, generations of farmers have continued to farm, so the photos are a contrast between nature's untamed forces and man's attempts to harness it. The cracks and crevices form writhing lines with deep earthy tones.

© Edward Burtynsky, courtesy Flowers, London Dryland Farming #31, Monegros County, Aragon, Spain, 2010

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MALIBU is a 50m motor yacht delivered by the world renowned Amels Shipyard in Holland

 21-5 Million.

 

BUILDER                    Amels                                 LOA                 50.00m / 164’

 

YEAR                           2001                                   BEAM              9.00m / 29’1’’

 

FLAG                           Cayman Islands                DRAFT            3.10m / 10’

 

NAVAL ARCH           Terence Disdale                 SPEED             12 knots cruising

 

HULL                           Steel                                    ACCOM          12 guests

 

LYING                         Genoa                                 ENGINES       2 x 1,200hp Cummins

MALIBU is a 50m motor yacht delivered by the world renowned Amels Shipyard in Holland with an original interior design by Terence Disdale and a complete refit in 2006 including new interiors by Reymond Langton. The yacht was built to Lloyds +100 A1 SSC G6 LMC, MCA.

This yacht has to be seen to experience the exceptional level of quality craftsmanship onboard.

MALIBU’S placement of the tenders on the bow leaves every deck clear for enjoying a lifestyle oriented by the sea.  Alfresco dining options abound with cocktail tables on the main deck, and dining for 12 offered on both the bridge and sun decks.  The sun deck has a built in sun pad and bar.  For serious sun bathing, the forward area of the sun deck furnishes privacy, full sun and a sensational Jacuzzi.

  

 

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS

 

Type:                                                Displacement Hull

Builder:                                           Amels Shipyard (Holland)

Hull no.:                                          437

Naval Architect:                             Amels Shipyard (Holland)/ Terence Disdale

Interior Designer:                          Reymond Langton

Construction Year:                         2001

Refitted:                                          2006

Classification:                                Lloyds +100 A1 55C G6 LMC, MCA

Construction:                                  Welded Steel

Crew:                                               12

Flag:                                                 George Town – Cayman Islands

Engines:                                           2 x Cummins 1200 hp

Transmission:                                 2 x Reintjes WAF 541

GRT:                                                610 tons

 

 

DIMENSIONS

 

LOA                                                 50.00 m / 164’

Beam                                                9.00 m / 29’7”

Draft                                                3.10m / 10

 

 

SPEED & RANGE UNDER POWER

 

Maximum Speed (knots)              15 knots

Cruising Speed (knots)                 13 knots

Economical Speed (knots)            12 knots

Fuel Consumption                         448 litres per hour @ 15 knots 1800 rpm

                                                         370 litres per hour @ 13 knots, 1400 rpm

                                                         206 litres per hour @ 12 knots, 1400 rpm

Range                                              2955 nm @ 15 knots

                                                         3185 nm @ 13 knots

                                                         5016 nm @ 12 knots

 

 

CAPACITIES

 

Accommodation                             12 in 1 x Master, 2 x Double, 2 x Twin, 2 x Pullman

Crew                                                11-12 Crew members in 5 cabins + Captain

Fuel                                                  95,000 litres/25,096 US gallons

Fresh Water                                    17,400 litres/4,596 US gallons

Lube Oil                                          2,200 litres/581 US gallons

Dirty Oil                                         2,000 litres/528 US gallons

Grey/Black Water                          5,300 litres/1,400 US gallons

Waste Water                                   21,400 litres/5,653 US gallons

Jacuzzi                                            3,200 litres/845 US gallons

 

 

ACCOMMODATION

 

Master Stateroom

On Main Deck the full width owner’s stateroom with en-suite bathroom, private office and salon. It is awash in natural light streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows port and starboard.  Enhancing the suite’s contemporary style is the Reymond Langton designed furniture finished in high-gloss macassar ebony.

 

VIP Cabin

On Lower Deck 2 x VIP double cabins wit en-suite bathrooms accommodate 4 guests. The contemporary theme of the whole interior of the yacht is evident in these staterooms

 

Guest Staterooms

On Lower Deck 2 x Twin cabins with 2x Pullmans with en-suite shower accommodating up to 6 guests. The contemporary theme of the whole interior of the yacht is evident in these staterooms.

 

Captain’s Cabin

Captain’s double bedded cabin with shower on the upper deck aft of the wheelhouse.

 

Crew

The Crew are accommodated in 5 twin cabins with en suite shower rooms on the lower deck forward.

 

 

MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT

 

Engines                                           2 x Cummins 1200 hp @ 1,600rpm

Engine hours                                  Port: 8,301hrs; Starboard: 8,301hrs (Apr 2012)

Generators & Electricity              2 x 170 Kw Cummins @ 1500 rpm each

                                                         1 x 33kw Cummins @ 1500 rpm

Generator hours                            Port: 17,993 hours; Starboard: 18,326 hours (Apr 2012)

Electricity                                       380V volt/3-phase/50Hz

Stabilisers                                      1 x Vosper / Naiad, Zero Speed

Bowthruster                                   1 x HRP 200-60 Electric @ 140 hp

Air Conditioning                           1 x Heinman/Hopman 3 zones +chiller plant

Water Maker                                  2 x Idromar reverse osmosis

Fuel Centrifuge/Separator            1 x Alfa Laval MAB 103 B-24

Passerelle                                       1 x Electric Hydraulic AI 50

 

 

INTERIOR / GALLEY / LAUNDRY EQUIPMENT

 

Galley

1 x Lohberger Oven

1 x Lohberger grill

1 x Lohberger deep fryer

1 x Lohberger stove (4 x induction)

1 x foster Refrigerator

1 x foster freezer

1 x Scotsman AC 45 Icemaker

1 x Metro  Dishwasher

1 x miele microwave - oven

1 x Lohberger  Grill

1 x Foster Walk-ins on tank deck

 

Crew Quarters/Mess

1 x Panasonic combination oven Microwave

1 x Liebherr pro line Refrigerator

1 x GEC Domestic Dishwasher

3 x Miele Professional WS5425 Washing Machines

3 x Miele Professional T5205C Clothes Dryers

1 x Miele Rotating HM 21-100 Irons

 

 

NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT

 

Magnetic Compass                        1 x Cassens & Plath

Gyro Compass                               1 x C Plath Mk1

Automatic Pilot                              1 x C Plath Navi Pilot V hsc

Echo Sounder                                 1 x Furuno FCV 582 L

Radar                                              1 x Decca

Radar                                              1 x Furuno RCV 013

Transponder                                  1 x Furuno

DGPS                                              2 x Litton Marine

Charts                                             1 x Transas

Navtex                                            1 x ICS nav 5

AIS GPS                                         1 x Saab

Log                                                  1 x Seaplath Naviknot III

Wind Instruments                         1 x Walker P310

 

COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT

 

SATCOM                                       1 x Sat TV Seatel

                                                         1 x Sat C Thrane & Thrane

                                                         1 x Sat Fleet 33

                                                         1 x Sat Fleet 77

                                                         1 x VSAT Seatel

VHF                                                2 x Sailor RT 4822

MF/HF                                             1 x Sailor HC 4500

Landline/Intercom                         1 x Panasonic System

Miscellaneous                               1 x Wi-Fi

 

 

DECK EQUIPMENT

 

1 x Anchor Windless System Steen

2 x Anchors 19-2-50

2 x Aft Capstans

1 x Marquipt Both, Port and Starboard

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT EQUIPMENT

 

Main Saloon

1 x Surround sound plasma television

2 x Denon DVD player

1 x Denon amplifier

1 x Sat decoder

1 x Ipad

 

Sky lounge

1 x Surround sound plasma TV

1 x DVD Players

1 x Denon amplifier

1 x Sat decoder

1 x Ipad

 

Sundeck

1 x CD player

1 x Marrantz amplifier

 

Master Stateroom

1 x Surround sound 50’’Plasma TV

1 x DVD Players

1 x Denon amplifier

1 x Sat decoder

1 x Ipad

 

VIP Cabin

2 x 23’’HD

2 x DVD Players

2 x Denon amplifier

2 x Sat decoder

 

Guest Cabins

2 x 23’’HD

2 x DVD Players

2 x Denon amplifier

2 x Sat decoder

 

Crew & Captain’s Cabin

1 x 27” Plasma TVs

6 x 20” Plasma TVs

7 x DVD Players

2 x Sat decoders

 

General

1 x Crestron Multi Media System

1 x X-boxes in the guest suites for the kids on board

1 x LINN Audi throughout yacht

IPod docking stations throughout the yacht

 

 

OFFICE EQUIPMENT

 

PC/Printer:                                1 x Asus , 1x Canon

Fax/Copier:                               1 x Panasonic

Monitors:                                  1 x Samsung

 

 

TENDERS & WATERSPORTS EQUIPMENT

 

Tenders

1 x Custom 22ft. Tender with FNM HTLP 250 hp

1 x Novurania 22ft. 660XL Equator with 250 hp Yanmar

1 x Rescue tender Canguro 420 gs

 

Water Sports

1 x Yamaha Waverunner XL700

1 x Yamaha Jet Ski SL 700A

Snorkel gear & fishing gear, water skis, towable toys

 

Diving Compressor

1 x BAUER

 

Crane

1 x 2000 kg Yacht Tec JA01001

1 x 2000 kg Yacht Tec JA00379

 

 

SECURITY & SAFETY EQUIPMENT

 

1 x Panasonic closed circuit television (CCTV) system with

4x Cameras and motion detectors (main deck) + 4 cameras in the engine room

3 x CCTV Monitor screens in wheelhouse, crew mess room and engine room

4 x Door alarms: stern /aft escape, engine room escape, fire escape.

44 x Fire / heat / smoke detectors throughout yacht

2 x Fixed C) 2 Systems locates in Engine room and Galley

28 x Fire extinguishers in all places necessary

 

 

COMMENTS

 

MALIBU is a 50m motor yacht delivered by the world renowned Amels Shipyard in Holland with an original interior design by Terence Disdale and a complete refit in 2006 including new interiors by Reymond Langton. The yacht was built to Lloyds +100 A1 SSC G6 LMC, MCA.

This yacht has to be seen to experience the exceptional level of quality craftsmanship onboard.

MALIBU’S placement of the tenders on the bow leaves every deck clear for enjoying a lifestyle oriented by the sea.  Alfresco dining options abound with cocktail tables on the main deck, and dining for 12 offered on both the bridge and sun decks.  The sun deck has a built in sun pad and bar.  For serious sun bathing, the forward area of the sun deck furnishes privacy, full sun and a sensational Jacuzzi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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