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Renewed interest in core American documents is driving sales of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Publishers are responding to the demand with new editions, including a forthcoming release from Random House.
Random House to Publish Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution
Andrew Ward, a publisher at Random House, noted that discussions regarding potential book ventures quickly shifted toward current events and the Trump administration during recent meetings.
“It became clear that we needed to revisit the nation’s foundational documents,” said Ward. “And that we aimed to release them promptly.”
Random House has revealed plans to release a combined hardcover edition of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution in July. This will be followed by a hardcover edition of the Federalist Papers in November. Both volumes feature introductions by Jon Meacham, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian known for his biographies of historical figures such as Thomas Jefferson and Andrew Jackson.
Sales Surge for Core American Documents
These Random House editions, published under its Modern Library imprint, will enter a thriving market that has witnessed significant growth in recent months. According to Circana, which monitors approximately 85% of the print retail sector, sales of the Declaration of Independence, the Federalist Papers, and the U.S. Constitution are experiencing their highest demand since Circana began tracking figures in 2004.
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Approximately 162,000 copies have been sold by mid-April. This is a significant increase compared to the 58,000 copies sold during the same period last year, and roughly 33,000 in 2023. Sales reached approximately 92,000 during the initial months of Trump’s first term in 2017, more than double the rate observed in 2016.
Reasons Behind Increased Demand
Brenna Connor, a book industry analyst at Circana, suggests that this surge is “likely a response to the recent change of administration.” She also pointed to increased interest in other books concerning democracy and governance. Titles include Timothy Snyder’s “On Tyranny” and the Michael Lewis-edited “Who Is Government?,” a collection of essays about civil servants by various authors.
“This pursuit of political comprehension is manifesting in several distinct areas,” Connor added.
Historian’s Perspective on Relevance of Foundational Texts
During a recent interview, Meacham emphasized that the nation’s founders sought to understand a revolutionary period. They navigated both the separation from England and the creation of a federal government strong enough to govern effectively, without replicating the monarchical power that had angered the colonies.
He believes that reading the Declaration of Independence and other foundational texts can provide the public with a similar sense of purpose and guiding principles.
“We are in a tumultuous moment, to put it mildly,” Meacham stated. “One way to address the chaos of the present time… is to re-engage with the essential texts that are about creating a system that is still worth defending.”
Market Competition and Availability
The Modern Library books will face considerable competition. These 18th-century documents are in the public domain. They are available to read online for free, and anyone is permitted to publish them. Circana notes that accessible editions have been released by various publishers including Skyhorse, Penguin, and Barnes & Noble.
Barnes & Noble’s Perspective
“We generally observe increased sales of editions of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution during every election cycle, but particularly this year,” said Shannon DeVito, Barnes & Noble’s senior director of book strategy. “This could be because next year marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, or the rapid current political discussions and policy changes.”