Today in 1776 – Thomas Paine publishes his pamphlet Common Sense:
It’s hard to find first editions of this famous 47-page pamphlet urging independence of the colonies (only three in decent condition have been auctioned since 1945), but this one sold in 2013 for $545,000.
Mark Bere Peterson: Hauntings, Urban Legends, History, Folklore, Mythology and Southern Folk Magic 