This desk marked number one is currently in the hands of the author and was acquired by his brother at auction in 2013 for $175.
Previously thought to be the only desk marked number one, another 1880 fac-simile marked number one in the collections of Monticello is the one mentioned by Silvio Bedini in his book Relic of Revolution: The Declaration of Independence Desk. These are the only desks to posses duplicate numbers.
The desk with the duplicate number in the hands of the author has no known history. Probable original owners include various cabinet members and acquaintances of William Maxwell Evarts, who was the Secretary of State in 1880 or family members and acquaintances of Henry Flagg French, assistant Secretary of the Treasury who was instrumental in having the fac-similes produced in the Treasury Department workshops in the spring of 1880 presumably at Evarts' direction.
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