The Constitution features calligraphy by Prem Behari Narain Raizada and illuminations by modern artist Nandalal Bose. This particular copy was part of a three-day online auction conducted by Saffronart from July 24 to 26, showcasing antiques representing centuries of Indian history, art, literature, photography, and more.
A rare first edition of the Constitution of India was recently sold at auction for Rs 48 lakh, marking its highest price yet. This edition is one of only 1,000 copies printed by the Survey of India offices in Dehradun and was published by the central Government in 1950.
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The blueprint of this Constitution is securely stored in a special helium-filled case in the library of the Parliament of India. More than a book, it is a historical document featuring the printed signatures of its creators, including B.R. Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Constitution.
The blueprint also bears the handprints of all 284 members of the 1946 Constituent Assembly, along with the Hindi signature of Kamla Chaudhary and the English signature of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
The Constitution features calligraphy by Prem Behari Narain Raizada and illuminations by modern artist Nandalal Bose. This particular copy was part of a three-day online auction conducted by Saffronart from July 24 to 26, showcasing antiques representing centuries of Indian history, art, literature, photography, and more.
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Saffronart aimed to document and present India’s rich heritage through the auction. Co-founder Minal Vazirani highlighted the inclusion of the Constitution as a significant addition, emphasizing its emotional resonance as a symbol of independent India and its values.
Raizada took six months, from November 1949 to April 1950, to meticulously write the laws of the Constitution on handmade Millbourne Loan paper supplied by the controller of printing & stationery, for which he was paid Rs 4,000.
The sheets were then decorated and illuminated by Nandalal Bose and other artists from Shantiniketan’s Kala Bhavan, with input from Nehru regarding gold spray on the margins and illumination on the borders of every page.
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Bose also created 22 illustrations, one for the beginning of each part of the Constitution, mostly in the miniature style, depicting various periods of India. He was paid Rs 21,000 for his work, which beautifully expressed India’s art and history in the 221-page Constitution that took four years to complete.
