Rare and valuable copy of American Declaration of Independence found... in Surrey

Daily Mail (UK) ^ | 2nd July 2009

[naturalman1975]

A rare copy of the United States Declaration of Independence worth thousands of pounds has been discovered in Britain.

The document, which is in perfect condition, is believed to be one of only 200 ever printed and was found among files at the National Archives in Kew.

An American antiquarian bookseller carrying out research found the Dunlap print of the declaration which was printed on July 4, 1776.

The discovery brings the total of known surviving copies worldwide to 26.

The last discovery of a Dunlap print was at a flea market in 1989, and it sold at auction in 2000 for $8.14 million (£4.94m).

Dunlaps were the first official printings of the Declaration of Independence and were named after John Dunlap, the printer whose name is given at the bottom of each copy.

This manuscript was hidden among correspondence from American colonists that had been intercepted by the British in the 18th century.

The finding of the poster-size document brings the number of copies held at the National Archives to three. But despite its value, National Archives spokeswoman Mel Hide said they will not be selling the print.

She said: 'We will protect and preserve this copy. It is unlikely to go on display because we already have one on show at the Archive's museum.'

But she did not rule out a trip across the Atlantic Ocean for the manuscript.

'The Americans are very excited by it. We do often loan out our key documents and I'm sure if an American institution wanted to borrow it, we would consider lending it to them.'

[RoadTest]

Headgear: Salvation
Chest plate: righteousness (try mentioning that to the Christians!)
Girdle: truth (the Liberals are pantless)
Shoes: Good news
Sword: The Word of God
Shield: faith (without which it is impossible to please God)

[PGR88]

Yeah, they may as well keep it - seems we aren’t using it anymore.

[Dixie Yooper]

The wiles of the Devil has no offense or defense against all that armor!

[Fractal Trader]

GGG ping

[wagglebee]

BTTT!

Great find!

[aculeus]

A great find on (or near) the Fourth!

[LTCJ]

LOL That would make a great toast.

To High Treason!

[NonValueAdded]

Happy Independence Day to all ...

but on the eve minus 1 of this, the most Holy day of Freedom in the entire history of Man, it is sullied by our country, OUR COUNTRY!, supporting Zelaya's soft coup facilitated by Hugo Chavez while the legal and proper institutions of Honduras struggle against the weight of the whole insane world.

[Pharmboy]

When the Brits were defeated at Saratoga, at the surrender ceremony their band played, what was for them, an appropriate tune called: “The World Turned Upside Down.” That would work for this Fourth of July also...

[Dr. Scarpetta]

Thanks for the ping.

Hadn’t heard about this......

[TenthAmendmentChampion]

Awesome!!

[Gondring]

ping

[Gondring]

(As a Washingtonian it took a lot for me to post TJ's portrait, but he was the main author of the DoI)

How exceedingly thoughtful of you, honoring my man Tommy J! :-) I give George credit for winning a couple of battles, too. :-)

I suppose as a Washingtonian, you're going to celebrate in the Washington manner of a double ration of rum and an artillery salute?

If you do, mind if I join you? ;-)

One thing I find amusing about the story of the writing of the DoI is how Tommy J wanted to get out of the city, so he rented rooms at the Graff House that was on the outskirts of the city. Of course, in the 21st Century, the reconstruction of the Graff House (original torn down in late 19th Century) is about as thickly in the city as one could be, with miles and miles of city built out beyond it and the adjacent buildings looming above.

It's also sad how the beautiful lands of recreation southwest of Philly have now become some of the ugliest urban/industrial blight around. Poor agrarian Tommy J would be appalled. :`-(

How small the city--and America--was back then, yet how such a brilliant group could be found and put together this Republic....whilst we now have hundreds of millions of citizens, yet find only the dregs we call our representatives.

[SunkenCiv]

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[the OlLine Rebel]

Actually, it would probably be worth alot more.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Yeah, he had some good ideas.

He just couldn’t always live up to them, or stand up for them.

[Pharmboy]

Well put, friend...