Very Rare Printing of the Declaration of Independence

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/18/2013

Broadside, “In Congress, July 4th 1776. The Unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America” 25-1/2” x 31-1/2” printed on WOVE paper, slightly and evenly tanned, with minor repairs from the verso. Imprint at bottom left, “W. J. STONE SC WASHn” [William Stone for Peter Force, Washington, DC. ca. 1833]. 26” x 30”. Never folded. Which printing is this example? The original William J. Stone facsimile was printed in 1823, when Congress ordered 200 official copies printed on vellum. The original plate is owned by the Federal Government and is displayed at the National Archives Experience Exhibition. Sometime after Stone completed his printing, the plate was altered, removing the top line credit, and replacing credit line with a shorter imprint at bottom left, “W. J. STONE SC WASHn,” as seen on this document, just below George Walton’s printed signature. Typically, these altered printings are credited to Peter Force, and dated 1848 which is consistent with the publication of Peter Force’s American Archives: A Documentary History of the United States of America, Series V, Volume I, which included the Declaration facsimile. These Declarations were folded and printed on rice paper unlike the example being offered here. Noted Declaration of Indepence expert Seth Kaller offers “Force had already procured the Declaration facsimiles 15 years earlier, when Congress authorized the American Archives project, and the State Department signed a contract for 1,500 copies. On July 21, 1833 the original engraver, William Stone, invoiced Force for 4,000 imprints of the Declaration. Perhaps.” Thus, this example is from the earlier, 1833, printing, placing between the original William Stone printing of 1823 and the Peter Force rice paper printing of 1848. Recently a William Stone example on vellum sold for $625,000; an 1848 Peter Force on rice paper sold for $19000.

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