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Sale 58
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Lot 43
[Declaration of Independence] Peter Force Rice-paper Copy. 28½ x 24 inches, matted with a small plaque and beautifully framed to an overall size of 38¾ x 33¾. Faint ink offset; there are clean partial fold splits in the second and third horizontal folds and at the center of the central verical fold, easily repaired.
In 1843, Congress authorized Peter Force to make up to 1500 rice-paper copies of the Declaration of Independence from the copperplate which William Stone had made in 1823 by wetting the original Declaration and transferring some of the original ink to the copperplate. Peter Force intended to use his rice-paper copies in a projected 20-volume series, called American Archives, of primary sources of American history from the 17th century to 1789. The series was sold by subscription and work commenced under contract with the Department of State and by Act of Congress. Nine volumes were published from 1837 to 1853, designated Fourth (six volumes) and Fifth (three volumes) Series, covering the years 1774-76. Subscriptions were fewer than expected, and Force stopped work on the project when further funding was not forthcoming. The actual number of copies printed is unknown, ranging from 500 to around 1,000. The Declaration of Independence was folded into Volume I, Fifth Series. Most copies of the Declaration have been cut from American Archives and sold individually, but they do not come on the market very often. The last several copies have sold for over $30,000. this is a superb specimen and beautifully framed.
Estimated Value $20,000 - 30,000.
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| Realized $21,600 |
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