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.

Comments

[Lucie LeBlanc Consentino]

I love when this happens! A few years ago I was transcribing old town meeting records in Methuen where I live. The first town meeting was recorded in 1726. When I was transcribing the years just prior to 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was written and signed, it was history revealing itself to me with a hand-on as to how America was built. In the year 1776, the then town clerk had written into record book, the Declaration of Independence, including a note that accompanied the original copy all towns and villages had received that stated it should be read after Sunday morning services. I was more than excited to have come across this and to my knowledge, neither the then mayor (who was big on history), the city clerk or historical society members were not aware of this when I brought it to their attention. Though it was not the "original copy" the town had received, for *me* it was like I was reading the original - to think that in 2005 someone would be reading a penned copy of the Declaration of Independence entered by a town clerk of so long ago. I then said - and still believe - that the city should put that on exhibit at either city hall or the public library over the July 4th holiday each year. It has not yet been done.

Meanwhile, there is a photo of it on the City of Methuen web site where I live if anyone is interested:
http://www.cityofmethuen.net/index.php?option=com_content&ask=view&id=70

Happy Independence Day!

[Randy]

A little newsletter I was reading the other day with some fun facts about America stated that there were 20 copies of the Declaration in the US and two copies in Great Britain. They were talking about the written version (they had just discussed the term for when it was copied in that strong, distinctive handwriting). I assume one copy was to King George and the other to Parliment.