Declaration Of Independence, Rare Original Copy, Found In British National Archives

LONDON — British researchers have announced the discovery of a rare original copy of America's Declaration of Independence _ just in time for the Fourth of July.

Katrina McClintock, a spokeswoman at the National Archives, said Thursday that a researcher accidentally discovered the "Dunlap print," named after a printer, several months ago. The find was announced only after it could be properly catalogued.

Edward Hampshire, the National Archives' specialist in colonial materials, said the find was "incredibly exciting."

"It is likely that only around 200 of these were ever printed, so uncovering a new one nearly 250 years later is extremely rare, especially one in such good condition," he said.

He said the declaration is one of the most important documents in history because it marks the birth of the United States.

The last Dunlap print to be found was sold at an auction for $8.14 million in 2000.

National Archives officials said they weren't sure how the Declaration of Independence copy ended up there.

Archives spokeswoman Frances McDarby said it was "possible that an American coastal vessel was intercepted by the British navy and that is how the document was able to come into our possession."

The prints, known collectively as the Dunlap Broadside, were the first copies of the Declaration of Independence. They were printed by John Dunlap of Philadelphia and distributed to political and military leaders, including George Washington, and dispatched throughout the colonies to be read to the public.

___

Associated Press writer Michael Bushnell in London contributed to this report.

Comments

[Passenger57]

How many redactions?

[WilliePilgrim]

Oh, wait, I just realized that if we hadn't successfully won our independence from the British, we would have ended slavery 60 years earlier, not have had a civil war, would have had national health coverage, and probably not have to endure the last will and testament of Michael Jackson. Oh...for only a small time machine.

[b1986]

I think you're forgetting one big thing that disproves your entire argument. WWII! We may have entered the war late as so many people in Europe claim, but I doubt the battle for Britain would have been won without us. Russian forces may have won without us, but you see how those relations went after the war. I know Brits who comment on this board will say they could have won without us but Churchill said he needed our resources to win. If the United States hadn't claimed independance we never would have become powerful enough to win. And as for ending slavery earlier. I admit you got us on that. But the ugly truth is that many African Americans in our country today never would have been born if we had ended it when Britain did. Single payer healthcare would be nice though.

[WilliePilgrim]

In your face, England.

[Figural]

No, you can't have it; it's just as much our history as it is yours!

[lastpost]

Its being kept for when England declares independence from Great Britain.

Just a quick borrow of Brown’s black felt-tip, and Sam’s your uncle.

[b1986]

LOL!! If it's England then wouldn't they just be declaring independance from themselves?

[Travis bdboy]

IT'S A KNOCKOFF....someone looking for some extra cash

[KQuark]

This is a US national treasure it should be in a US museum.

[b1986]

If it does come back the US then I hope it comes back to Philadelphia. We made it so it should come back to us. My family is friends with the Dunlap family which are direct descendants of John Dunlap, the printer of the Declaration. GO PHILADELPHIA!!!

[Hawaii5-0]

Are they going to sell it back to the US now? After it was intercepted along the US coast.

[darker]

THE REPUBLICANS sent our US Constitution to England because
they have made it entirely irrelevant!

[lastmanstanding99]

don't forget Obama, and his indefinite detention. Of all people, he used to teach constitutional law and he doesn't follow the constitution, he just finds ways around it.

[AirViceMarshalPark]

This is the copy that George III read aloud to a tree.

[madtom]

If it's hemp (marijuana) paper, it must be DESTROYED !!!

Right, Repubilcans?

[dyldrix]

yes yes yes...republicans evil...ban everything...yadda yadda yadda......you do of course realize that the Democratic leadership also support the pot laws right?

[MadJeffersonian]

Yep, right along with the Constitution.

Oh wait, they already did that under Bush.

[thundermummy]

So if it was "intercepted" that means it was stolen? U.S. property that should be returned perhaps? Just asking.

[dyldrix]

they seem to have kept it in superb condition for over 2 centuries...I think they can hold on to it

[focher]

They got the original anyway, so what do they need a copy for?

[Cunningham]

What a wonderful find. :-)

[Guitarsandmore]

So if a copy of a print is worth 8.14 million dollars then how much is the original hand written parchment worth?

[Cunningham]

It's priceless.

[RevRayGreen]

is it copied on hemp paper?

[lastmanstanding99]

that's some old weed

[Passenger57]

I prefer to think of it as "vintage" weed. LIke wine!