The historic Mason-Dixon Line map sold for $950,000 on Thursday at Brunk Auctions in Asheville, North Carolina. Drafted by British surveyors Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, the boundary later featured in the 1820 Missouri Compromise to establish limits on slavery ahead of the American Civil War. The transaction drew 45 in-person and online bidders, though the Library of Congress chose not to participate. Although falling short of the $1.2 million top estimate, the final price still represents a substantial increase over its previous public sales.
Key points
The boundary initially resolved a colonial land dispute before evolving into the primary…: The boundary initially resolved a colonial land dispute before evolving into the primary boundary between northern and southern states.
The anonymous winning bidder prevailed over dozens of rivals despite the final hammer pri…: The anonymous winning bidder prevailed over dozens of rivals despite the final hammer price trailing the top pre-sale estimate.
Auction officials described the ultimate payout as an exceptionally strong sum for an ant…: Auction officials described the ultimate payout as an exceptionally strong sum for an antique American map.
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A hand-drawn map of the Mason-Dixon Line, which became a symbol of the divide between free and slave states in the United States, sold for $950,000 at an auction in Asheville, North Carolina, on Thursday. Forty-five bidders competed for the historic document, with the contest lasting just under three minutes.
The bidding began at $400,000 for the survey, completed in 1768 by British surveyors Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon. The sale was conducted both online and in person at Brunk Auctions. Although the final price fell short of the auction house's high estimate of $1.2 million, its vice-president Lauren Brunk said she was pleased with the result.
“It’s a very high price for a map," she said.
The buyer has asked to remain anonymous, at least for now, Brunk said. The Library of Congress, which lost out when the map was sold in 1982, did not participate in Thursday's bidding.
The map was originally commissioned to resolve a boundary dispute between the colonies of Maryland and Pennsylvania. However, its historical significance grew over time as the Mason-Dixon Line became associated…
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