March 2024 Auction Ends Thursday, March 28th, 5pm Pacific

1833 Force Declaration of Independence From Original Copper Plate

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/28/2024

1833 copy of the Declaration of Independence from the original copper plate by William J. Stone, who created the earliest copies of the Declaration of Independence in 1823. John Quincy Adams, then Secretary of State, oversaw the 1823 project and commissioned Stone to reproduce the document for the upcoming 50th anniversary of the signing. Stone used a new wet-ink transfer process to create a copper plate from which copies were made. By wetting the original document, some of the original ink was transferred to the copper plate, which was then used for printing 201 vellum copies, nearly all of which now reside in permanent collections.

Ten years later, in 1833, the same copper plate was used to print additional copies of the Declaration of Independence on rice paper for inclusion in Peter Force's book, ''American Archives''. The series was to total 20 volumes, but the cost of the set was prohibitive for most Americans and printing was stopped short at nine volumes. It's unknown how many Declarations were printed but it's believed that most were destroyed, apart from the small number that were printed and sold. This 1833 Force Declaration is the oldest Declaration apart from the original and the 1823 copies.

Declaration bears the ''W.J. STONE SC. WASHN.'' watermark at lower left from the original copper plate. Measures approximately 25'' x 29''. The original volume of "American Archives" accompanies the lot, although the Declaration has been removed from the book. Folds as issued, light showthrough at top, small paper loss at lower edge and minor foxing. Overall a bright copy in very good plus condition, nicer than usually found.