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Hello all,
So the other day I came across a site that sells historic documents, and one caught my eye as really cool, a broadside of the Declaration of independence: https://www.sethkaller.com/item/1098-A-Rare-July-1776-Declaration-of-Independence-Broadside
This got me curious as to how many printings there were and when they were made. In short, I learned that:
1. There was an initial draft made by Jefferson (included hand edits by Ben Franklin) – this copy still exists
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/declara/images/draft1.jpg
2. There was a copy that was presented at the Continental Congress, and included their edits – this copy has not been found
3. Congress then had John Dunlap, a local Philadelphia printer, print several hundred copies, known as broadsides, that were distributed throughout the colonies – around 25 are known to have survived
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/treasure/dunlap_broadside.html
4. Once the colonies had the John Dunlap broadsides, locally printed broadsides were made (of which the originally referenced one is this post is, likely printed in New Hampshire or Massachusetts)
https://www.sethkaller.com/slideshow.php?id=1098&t=t-1098-001-Ks21991_post_w.jpg
5. Around July 19th, 1776, Congress had a larger, “embossed” version made, which was to be signed by the Continental Congressmen, and is the big version with John Hancock’s large signature we typically think about when we think of the Declaration of Independence
http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_zoom_1.html
This website has an incredible description of the different versions: http://thejeffersonians.com/History%20of%20Declaration%20of%20Independence.html
Did you know so many different versions existed? Do you know anything else interesting about the ones above?
-Dan
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