Rare Copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence Found

An original first print of the United States Declaration of Independence has been discovered gathering dust after nearly 250 years. The poster size proclamation, which is in perfect condition and is said to be worth about $8 million, is one of only 26 surviving initial copies of the document that changed the course of history.

The interesting thing is that this copy was found in The National Archives. That's NOT the National Archives and Records Administration in the United States. Instead, this copy was found in The National Archives of Great Britain in Kew, West London! Apparently, this copy has been there since 1776 or shortly thereafter.

It was found by complete chance by an American antiquarian bookseller carrying out unrelated research in the National Archives at Kew.

You can read more in the Mail Online at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1197046/Rare-valuable-copy-American-Declaration-Independence--Surrey.html.

My thanks to Christine Czarnecki for telling me about this story.