|
Sale 73
|
|
press UP arrow key to increase the zoom ratio.
press DOWN arrow key to decrease the zoom ratio.
press RIGHT arrow key to increase the zoom window size.
press LEFT arrow key to decrease the zoom window size.
|
|
Lot 90
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE In Peter Force's American Archives, Beautiful copy of the Declaration of Independence on thin, translucent paper (sometimes called rice paper) 25½ x 29 in., still as originally folded into Volume I of American Archives: Fifth Series. Containing A Documentary History of The United States of America…. Washington, April, 1848. Fine; three vertical and three horizontal folds, a couple of tiny toned spots; a tear at top edge and a couple of fold splits can be easily repaired. Easily removed from volume and framed for display. The front cover and first two end pages of the volume are separated, not affecting the Declaration of Independence.
In 1823, William J. Stone was commissioned by Congress to create a copperplate from which facsimile copies of the Declaration could be made. He did this by wetting the original document and transferring some of the original ink to the copperplate. From this plate, Stone printed 201 copies on parchment, which were given to President James Monroe, original Signers, members of Congress, colleges and institutions, etc. Stone's personal copy is in the Smithsonian. Only 31 of Stone's original 201 copies are known to exist; nineteen of these reside in museums and examples are rarely offered for sale.
In 1833, Congress authorized Peter Force to make up to 1500 copies of the Declaration from the original Stone copperplate. Force burnished out Stone's imprint and added a new one, "W.J. STONE SC. WASHN." at lower left. Force intended the copies for 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, 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 of the Declaration of Independence printed is unknown, ranging from 500 to around 1,000. It is not known how many of these copies have survived. Most copies of the Declaration have been cut from American Archives and sold individually.
Estimated Value $12,000 - 15,000
|
| |
| Realized $18,000 |
|
