Rare Document Discovered by Volunteer
A volunteer at The National Archives in Kew, UK, has unearthed a rare surviving copy of the American Declaration of Independence. This particular document is significant as it is the only known example of its specific printing outside of the United States.
The discovery was made in February by Michael Scurr while he was cataloging records belonging to Royal Navy captains from the American Revolutionary War period. The document is one of 11 copies produced in Exeter, New Hampshire, in July 1776. These copies were printed to disseminate the news of American independence throughout the colonies before being intercepted by British forces.
Details of the Discovery
Upon realizing the importance of the document, Scurr alerted his supervisor. The copy was seized by the Royal Navy on Christmas Eve, 1776, when HMS Raisonable captured the American ship Dalton off the coast of Portugal after a seven-hour pursuit. The captured vessel, along with its papers, was subsequently brought to Britain.
Dr. Graham Moore from The National Archives highlighted the rarity of the find, noting that it represents "one of the rarest forms of the Declaration we know about." He explained that after the initial printing on July 4, the Declaration's news spread rapidly across North America, leading to various reprints in successive colonies. The discovered copy is among the few survivors from those first printings in New Hampshire.
Journey to the Archives
The Declaration was found folded among the letters of Captain Thomas Fitzherbert. It arrived in Plymouth in January 1777 before being transferred to Whitehall in London. Intriguingly, the document was initially listed without special distinction by the Royal Navy captain, merely described as "another paper," and remained hidden within the state's archives for centuries. Moore stated that this is the only known copy of the Declaration obtained through military action.
Conservation and Display
Following its discovery, the rare copy underwent conservation work to stabilize its paper and repair a minor tear, ensuring its preservation for study and future display. It is now set to be featured in the archives' exhibition, "Revolution 250: America's Independence Story, 1763-1783," which opened last month.
Saul Nassé, chief executive of The National Archives, described the find as an "extraordinary discovery," emphasizing its unique presence in the UK rather than America. The National Archives already possesses three original official copies of the Declaration of Independence, printed by John Dunlap in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776. Approximately 200 copies were likely printed that night, with only 26 known to exist today.
Source: Rare copy of US Declaration of Independence found by volunteer in UK archives
