October 2023 Auction Ends Thursday, October 26th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/26/2023
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.
This copy of the Force Declaration is still within ''American Archives'', which is unusual as most copies have since been cut out; copies in the book are considered more desirable. Declaration bears the ''W.J. STONE SC. WASHN.'' watermark at lower left from the original copper plate. Declaration measures 25'' x 29''. A very bright copy as expected since it hasn't been exposed to light. Folds as issued, light staining along top edge, small spot of foxing under Hancock's signature and two small closed tears on right side as noted, the largest approximately 2''. Overall in very good plus condition.
Declaration is accompanied by almost the entire ''American Archives'' series, comprising eight volumes: volumes 1 and 3-6 of the 4th series and volumes 1-3 of the 5th series, lacking only volume 2 of the 4th series. ''American Archives'' is nine volumes in total, published from 1837 to 1853, comprising the most important documents of colonial American and the American Revolution. In addition to the Declaration, volumes also include reproductions of the King's Message to Parliament, the Treaty with Great Britain, numerous maps and other documents. Ex-libris volumes are bound in contemporary blue cloth. Minor discoloration to some pages in the 5th series, overall very good.
1833 Force Declaration of Independence From Original Copper Plate -- Contained Within ''American Archives''
Click above for larger image.