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

[Moshe]

Wow! That is incredible.

But what would have been priceless would have been to see King George's face when he first read the Declaration in which Mr. Jefferson and other "commoners" from the boondocks of the colonies declared themselves King Geoge's equal and told him we would no longer be needing his kingly services:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness"

[mark 0]

King George rejected it, because it didn't have the proper cover sheet on it. (cf. "Office Space")

[NicoloM]

or doesn't read the papers (cf."George HB")

[davidwayneosedach]

What a priceless icon to have found for the fourth of July!

[instagladiator]

Beware of strangers bearing gifts.

[tailgateshirts]

lol had to ship one over to England as a nice F*ck you

[113]

lol

[TFlint]

It was addressed to the King of England.

[wadenelson1]

Thank God! I didn't think there was a copy left that George W. Bush or Dick Cheney hadn't wiped their asses on.

[TFlint]

That's the Constitution.

[wadenelson1]

My bad.

[Perry Clease]

There is invisible ink map on the back to the missing Crown Treasure, you need lemon juice and a little bit of heat to bring it out.

[mtdem4ever]

You need Nic Cage also.

[wndrwrthg]

So that's where I left it.

[RightWingMarine]

if this document is only just now being delivered then we need to do a serious review of the US Postal Service.

[gallimaufry03]

And just in time for America's next bday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

[Jaywalkker]

What a belated birthday card.

I wonder what will become of it, displayed in Britain as part of their history? Given to (back) to the US? Left in a dusty card catalogue of contemporary documents?

Happy 233rd America!

[therblig]

CSI research will yield samples of George III's DNA. In various (ewww) forms.

[jtraynor]

Happy Birthday America!