Print, Declaration of Independence, 1823

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Object Details

associated person

Stone, William J.

Description

Congressmen voted for independence on July 2, 1776, then spent two days editing Thomas Jefferson’s draft of the text. They officially declared independence on July 4. In August they signed a carefully lettered parchment copy that today is housed in the National Archives. Worried that the original signed Declaration of Independence was fading, then Secretary of State John Quincy Adams commissioned engraver William Stone to create a copper plate to produce facsimiles of the text in 1823. This facsimile was printed from Stone’s plate.

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

Mrs. W. J. Stone

associated date

1823

ID Number

PL.004685

catalog number

4685

accession number

21086

Object Name

Physical Description

engraving (overall production method/technique)

paper (overall material)

Measurements

overall: 32 in x 28 in; 81.28 cm x 71.12 cm

See more items in

Political History: Political History, General History Collection

Government, Politics, and Reform

American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith

Data Source

National Museum of American History

general subject association

independence

National Symbols

Metadata Usage

CC0

Link to Original Record

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a3-0c37-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record ID

nmah_504566