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.

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

Comments

[ranchero42]

Nobody knows how the Brits got a copy? FYI; if there's anything else you think they need to know about, now's the time to make a clean breast of it.

[In A World]

When you guys are done reading it give it back, thanks.

[fcsakes]

A copy is a copy is a copy.

[GoDogGo]

The most ignora nt comment of the day, right here. Congrats.

With so few prints made, each one of these WAS the Declaration to the world. There was no mass media then so each and every one of these original prints was like a radio station. As a beacon of democratic ideology, the historical significance of each one of these -- especially one sent overseas -- is huge.

[Kybernaught]

Since they don't own th eoriginal do they have a right to keep a backup copy? Couln't that be construed as document piracy. Lets get a Pirate bay ruling please.

[talkingdog]

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

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Declaration of Independence was declaring independence from King George of England.

So,.....th­ey'd likely have mailed him a complementary copy, so he'd read it,.......­don't you think?

[Collielady]

Makes sense to me. They would want to let him know, and they didn't Twitter.

[Proxy11]

@KingGeorgeDa3 We'z revolting son. P.S. You suckzz.

[Rockwell]

It's a special complimentary copy where John Hancock wrote "Bite me George" in the margin.

[MacGregor57]

That's a good one-thanks.

[Cunningham]

LOL!

[zerotimes10]

Yeah he read it and it really pissed him off. To King George, our Founding Fathers were traitors and terrorists. Our Fathers, pledged their lives and their sacred honor. Many of them were hunted down and killed by British Soldiers. Remember this on Saturday. We still fight to keep what they died for intact. Liberty is always under attack.

[Passenger57]

Isn't it kind of like a letter of resignation?
"Dear King George:
You suck.
We're out!"
Signed, The Future Founders Of America

[JBS]

Tres Kewl

[Cunningham]

Oui oui!

[x xerxes]

If this document was printed on POT paper it should be destroyed. Displaying it would be harmful and a terrible message to our nation's youth.

[Baculus]

What in the world are you talking about?

[propitiousmoment]

hemp, maybe?

[MacGregor57]

Hemp, paper made from hemp.

[mikala]

Most paper at that time was hemp and the Constitution and Declaration of Independence are both on hemp so it stands to reason this is also.

[rjhuntington]

This must be the copy by which England was served official notice.

[Passenger57]

The Declaration used to be longer -
but it got smoked.

[lazercat2008]

The down side is, King George was using it to wipe his derriere.

[ranchero42]

Arse.

[Artos]

I don't think that the document was captured, I think it was purposely sent to the British so that they understood what we were supposed to be about. We probably sent them to several countries. I wouldn't be surprised if the French and perhaps the Spanish or Italians don't have a copy as well somewhere. Usually when you wanted your country to be Recognized you sent documents to other nations that were considered legitimate players in the World arena. This was done as a way to assert your own right to join the big boys.

[fusillijerry]

What else are they hiding in there?

[thundermummy]

The car that runs on water, the real words to Louie Louie and the Lindbergh baby.

[rktboy]

...And Hoffa. Don't forget Hoffa.

[notconfindtweenhatnboots]

Wow. I would have thought old King George would have used this for TP.

[ha32a2]

Was this copy written on Hemp (marijuana) paper too... Thomas Jefferson was a hemp farmer and a lot of historical documents used this type of paper because it's really easy and cheap to make but durable. New Jersey is going to vote this month on a bill to legalize medical marijuana, bill #A804. If this passes, it would annually take a couple of billion dollars out of the pockets of the Mexican cartels running amuck and rivaling the Mexican federal police. This is a better tactic to fight the war on drugs...

[AdV2k1]

how many copies of this are their ? Every few years I heard a new story

[deadcustodian]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunlap_broadside
The Dunlap broadsides were the first published copies of the United States Declaration of Independence, printed on the night of July 4, 1776, by John Dunlap of Philadelphia. It is unknown exactly how many broadsides were originally printed, but the number is estimated at about 200.

[UncleJimbo]

They will probably take better care of it than we would! The British have a profound respect for History! I lived there for 9 years (USAFE) but off base in Oxford! Most Brits consider that we are "Cousins",I don't even consider them,Canad­ians,Austr­alians or New Zealanders Foreign!

[dizzypdx]

I'm surprised the copy wasn't burned when captured by the British.

[HekmabaJuzimax]

No, just one or two little words changed, just in case they want their land back.