NEW YORK, NY.- On November 14, in a special single-lot evening sale, Christie’s New York will offer a proclamation signed by George Washington on October 3, 1789 establishing the first federal Thanksgiving Day, called for the last Thursday of November (estimate: $8-12 million). This sale, which follows a national tour, offers a unique opportunity to acquire a foundational document in the history of our great national tradition of Thanksgiving.

Excerpts of the Proclamation include:

• By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation…

• …both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer…

• Now therefore do I recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being…That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for... the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed--for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted--for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge...

The Thanksgiving Proclamation will be on exhibition the following dates:

October 17-20, Los Angeles, The Reagan Library
October 22, Dallas, Harlan Crow Library
October 24, Chicago, Christie’s Chicago
October 30, Boston
November 4, Washington, D.C., The Jefferson
November 5, Philadelphia, National Constitution Center
November 7-13, New York, Christie’s Galleries