Lot 1001
Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776), Printed document signed in facsimile, one page, large folio, from The American Archives, being an official rice paper copy of the Declaration of Independence, pulled from the Stone copper plate by Peter Force in 1843. Some typical tears that have been reinforced, Well preserved, archivally framed, Very Fine.
Estimate 20,000 - 30,000
A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO OWN AN EARLY AND AUTHORIZED PRINTING OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DOCUMENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
In 1823, Congress authorized the production of facsimile copies of the Declaration of Independence. Noted engraver, William J. Stone, was commissioned to use a new wet-ink transfer process to the copper-plate, which was then used for printing. There were 201 copies made in this early printing, of which only 31 examples are currently known with only twelve in private hands.
In 1843, Peter Force used the original Stone copper-plate to print additional copies of the Declaration of Independence on rice paper for inclusion in Volume I of his multi-volume book, "American Archives". Congress authorized up to 1500 copies of the book to be printed, but subscriptions fell far short of this number. The actual number printed is unknown, with estimates ranging from about 500 to upwards of 1000 copies. All examples were folded for insertion on the inside of the front cover of Volume I, but today, most have been removed. Because the twelve privately owned 1823 parchment copies are prohibitively expensive, the remaining rice paper copies are highly desirable.
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| Realized $25,000 |
