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

[marijam]

Wow! Super.

[BadgersBite]

Original Copy isn't that an oxymoron like Jumbo Shrimp or Military Intelligence?

[TFlint]

Okay, an original print from an edition of about 200.

[BadgersBite]

Thanks...for the news flash - I get it

[Perry Clease]

As TFlint says there was about 200 printed on July 4th. Kind of like an 18th Century PDF

[HekmabaJuzimax]

Well, Franklin invented the copier machine so....

[abouttime]

Probably printed on hemp (Cannibis , Marijuana).
Lasts along time!

[nowThenzen]

until ya smoke it!

[lordjin]

that's one hell of a rare, historic rolling paper.

[Menomlg]

Just in time to remind us of all the freedoms we have lost. It's a sign.... not that anyone is watching

[instagladiator]

You're right about that because the majority of your fellow country-persons are not paying attention.

[Chace Haynes]

true

[nowThenzen]

yes, but you are paying attention and he is paying attention and now I am paying attention and the guy below is paying attention; that's how it works. We're doing a great job, keep up all!

[Paulo1]

Thank you Britain !!

Please hold on to that copy as George Bush and Dick Cheney have done a fine job of shredding our Constitution and we may need to borrow that one back.

[dclobbyist]

Declaration of Independence, Constitution, two different documents. Try to keep up.

[IndyReader]

I must say that "copy" sure looks good to be over 200 years old.

[HekmabaJuzimax]

Yes, hot off the presses.

[Daniel Wilkes]

Ahhh American History- how quaint, the sheer amazement that a document can survive 250 years intact. Hereford Cathedral here in the country of your former colonial masters, possesses a map of the world from c.1300 AD and a copy of the Magna Carta from 1217AD (and that one really is a copy- of the original from 1215)- the latter is intact and completely legible and comes complete with a contemporary "instruction manual" from the King to the Sherrifs.

If I may, as an outsider, make an observation about what it seems many Americans see as their history. It always amazes me how some people (I don't know if it's many people or if they're just extra loud) seem to hold a rose-tinted view of their early statesmen and choose to view them as Godlike figures- you know how "Washington never told a lie" and "Lincoln believed in social equality". Another thing which bemuses me is how some Americans (again some pretty damn vocal ones) suggest that the policies of the Federal and State governments (DOMA, Abortion law etc.) should be based on religion whilst at the same time crying "Constitution" and "principles of the Founding Fathers" at anything they don't like- the Constitution makes the USA a *secular* state and the Founding Fathers took their ideas from the very, very secular French Revolutionaries- are these people mad?

[700rpm]

Uhh. The French Revolution took place in 1789. Articles of Confederation were issued to the states in 1777. Our Constitution was ratified in 1788. So it is unlikely the French Revolutionaries influenced the FFs. Other way around, actually.

Much of our Constitution is rooted in the Magna Carta and English law. DOMA, Don't-Ask-Don't-Tell, and the abortion laws all run counter to that traditional reference. The current fever by the "Originalists" about these issues is, as usual, wrong-headed and has no basis in settled law. But don't take my word for it; look it up.

I agree that most Americans have a scwewy idea of history and historical significance. We are still a very young country.

[Weirdwriter]

So, they did get the memo. Nice.

[NicoloM]

any word of their response?

[americaismyhome]

It's a sign from God. He wants America to find it's roots and get back to the principles of our founders.

[koalaholik]

Which would be what? Tax cuts for the rich, no affordable health care, pre-emptive war, warrantless wiretaps, Christianity as the State religion, and the federal government in our bedrooms and doctors' offices.

[instagladiator]

If you're an American, you definitely need medical help.

[forty8r]

Yeh right! Why is it in Great Britian were they have socialized medicine. Humm maybe your right after all.

[useyourbrain]

Slavery
No rights for women
No rights for men unless you owned land

Yes, a sign from god that America find it's roots and get back to the principles of our founders. Check out our founders. Their shite stank too. George Washington was quite the ladies man, and he was married. He must have been an early Republic - ian.

[instagladiator]

What a selfish, one-track mind you have. You really don't know much about your own history, do you?

[dee544]

Yeah . . .slavery!

[instagladiator]

I would suggest that you read it again.

[Hirnlego]

Ah, more pretty much completely useless working in mysterious ways :D

[lj9283]

Is there a map on the back?

[MilitantlyPassive]

Thanks! Best post so far.

[Perry Clease]

Hey! I beat him to that post, see the last page of comments :)

[TFlint]

Yes a National Geographic Map, only then it was called Colonial Geographic.

[113]

ha and extra little slap in the face to the brits...makes my day.

[useyourbrain]

I think there was a scratch off on the original.

[cooket]

it's like, 250 years later and we are STILL stickin it to the Brits.

USA USA USA.

[PresidentRobertBooth]

***it's like, 250 years later and we are STILL stickin it to the Brits.

USA USA USA***

Yep

Stickin' it to those darn Brits by.....erm...having no public healthcare system and being ruled by private insurance companies.

That'll show em!!!!

[ObamacratDOTus]

Too bad this couldn't have been rolled out in time for King George's rule (2001-2008)

[Creeker11]

Im sure they laughed all the way back over the atlantic at our lack of public healthcare. "They're gonna go on and create the greatest nation of all time, but they're gonna have to have a co-pay. BWAHAHAHAHA! Stupid Yankees."

[Eoin45]

Jingoistic drivel.

[DressEyebrows]

Or perhaps a lighthearted goofy joke.

[mark 0]

Love it!

After all, what's the point of issuing the Declaration, if due notification isn't made to the country from which you're separating?

[Skyhawk]

Cool.

[PresidentRobertBooth]

Had HM King George III given the colonists dominion status (self rule inside the British Empire), the independence conflict may (and should) have been avoided.

[instagladiator]

Nope. It was primarily about breaking away from the clutches of the Bank of England.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

Now all these years later we're in the clutches of CitiBank and Goldman-Sachs. Might be time for a new revolution.

[PresidentRobertBooth]

Has HM King George III given the colonists dominion status (self rule inside the British Empire), the independence conflict may (and should) have been avoided.

[Sean Whelan]

Beg pardon??

[Eoin45]

Jeez, read some history. Many of the founders, including Ben Franklin, would have been happy with self rule as opposed to complete separation from Britain. It was, after all, the native land of many colonists.

[PresidentRobertBooth]

***Beg pardon??***

I corrected my post above

Basically I think the revolutionary war could have been avoided had the British given America dominion status.

[macintoshsauce]

Yes, but if that happened the United States as we know it may not have happened.

[PresidentRobertBooth]

***Yes, but if that happened the United States as we know it may not have happened***

You're right.

A BETTER version of the United States may have happened.

[deluk]

I feel your pain my colonial cousin, we all have to live with the tragic consequences of history. If George 111 had been more amenable and less insane, you too could have had universal healthcare and the BBC.

[LiarLiarIraqsOnFire]

Tory in the house, woot woot!
Tory in the house, woot woot!