DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE]. In Congress, July 4, 1776. The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America. When in the Course of Human Events... [Washington, D.C.,] engraved by W.J. Stone [1823-1825], reprinted 1833 from the same copperplate, for Peter Force's American Archives (1837-1853), [Traditionally misdated 1848, see below].
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE]. In Congress, July 4, 1776. The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America. When in the Course of Human Events... [Washington, D.C.,] engraved by W.J. Stone [1823-1825], reprinted 1833 from the same copperplate, for Peter Force's American Archives (1837-1853), [Traditionally misdated 1848, see below]. Folio broadside (30 3/8 x 25½ in.). NEVER FOLDED, with good margins. Very slight age-toning, left margin a bit ragged, light dampstain to lower right-hand margin. A NEVER-FOLDED COPY OF PETER FORCE'S 1833 PRINTING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, FROM W.J. STONE'S 1823 PLATE. In 1823 Congress commissioned Stone to produce a fine, actual-size replica of the original engrossed Declaration of Independence. After Stone printed the 200 copies ordered, Stone's original engraved plate remained with the Department of State. A few years later, Peter Force (1790-1868), historian, publisher and mayor of Washington D.C., conceived a 20-volume anthology entitled American Archives , reprinting thousands of original letters, documents and broadsides from the Revolutionary War. Congress agreed to fund an edition of 1,500 sets. For the project, Force arranged with the State Department to print 4,000 copies of the Declaration, using Stone's original copperplate, on fine, wove paper. Stone's imprint was neatly burnished out at the top of the plate--and a discreet "W.J. STONE SC[ULPSIT] WASHN." added in the lower left quadrant. Documentation recently unearthed shows that the Force edition was not printed in 1848 as previously believed, but earlier, in 1833. American Archives was published at intervals between 1837 and 1853, but paid subscriptions to the elaborate (and bulky) collection proved disappointing, and only 9 of the projected 20 volumes were issued. Of the 4,000 engraved Declarations, 1,500 went to the State Department, some 2,000 were evidently folded for binding, and a surplus of perhaps 500 were never folded. Unfolded copies show none of the ink offsetting and hard creasing of the folded copies.
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE]. In Congress, July 4, 1776. The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America. When in the Course of Human Events... [Washington, D.C.,] engraved by W.J. Stone [1823-1825], reprinted 1833 from the same copperplate, for Peter Force's American Archives (1837-1853), [Traditionally misdated 1848, see below].
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE]. In Congress, July 4, 1776. The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America. When in the Course of Human Events... [Washington, D.C.,] engraved by W.J. Stone [1823-1825], reprinted 1833 from the same copperplate, for Peter Force's American Archives (1837-1853), [Traditionally misdated 1848, see below]. Folio broadside (30 3/8 x 25½ in.). NEVER FOLDED, with good margins. Very slight age-toning, left margin a bit ragged, light dampstain to lower right-hand margin. A NEVER-FOLDED COPY OF PETER FORCE'S 1833 PRINTING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, FROM W.J. STONE'S 1823 PLATE. In 1823 Congress commissioned Stone to produce a fine, actual-size replica of the original engrossed Declaration of Independence. After Stone printed the 200 copies ordered, Stone's original engraved plate remained with the Department of State. A few years later, Peter Force (1790-1868), historian, publisher and mayor of Washington D.C., conceived a 20-volume anthology entitled American Archives , reprinting thousands of original letters, documents and broadsides from the Revolutionary War. Congress agreed to fund an edition of 1,500 sets. For the project, Force arranged with the State Department to print 4,000 copies of the Declaration, using Stone's original copperplate, on fine, wove paper. Stone's imprint was neatly burnished out at the top of the plate--and a discreet "W.J. STONE SC[ULPSIT] WASHN." added in the lower left quadrant. Documentation recently unearthed shows that the Force edition was not printed in 1848 as previously believed, but earlier, in 1833. American Archives was published at intervals between 1837 and 1853, but paid subscriptions to the elaborate (and bulky) collection proved disappointing, and only 9 of the projected 20 volumes were issued. Of the 4,000 engraved Declarations, 1,500 went to the State Department, some 2,000 were evidently folded for binding, and a surplus of perhaps 500 were never folded. Unfolded copies show none of the ink offsetting and hard creasing of the folded copies.
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Create an alert![DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE] In Congress, July 4, 1776 The ...](http://www.christies.com/lotfinderimages/D53316/[declaration_of_independence]_in_congress_july_4_1776_the_unanimous_de_d5331684g.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
