February 23rd, 2012
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/23/2012
Printed Broadside, a printing of the Declaration of Independence, one page, 29½x26 inches printed on rice paper from the original Stone "wet ink" copper plate, folded once vertically and thrice horizontally. A remarkable printing of the Declaration of Independence, the single most important document in the history of our nation. The broadside has been glued down, two minor professional repairs and presented in an eloborate frame. In 1843 Congress commissioned Peter Force to prepare a series of books entitled The American Archives. The purpose of this book was to compile the 1774 through 1777 American Archives which also included reproduction of key founding documents of the United States. For that occasion the "William Stone" copper plate was removed from storage and altered to reflect the 1843 printing. Then, by virtue of an Act of Congress, Peter Force was permitted to print copies on Rice paper from the actual "William Stone" copper plate. The plate was marked just below George Walton's name with "W. J. Stone S.C. WASHN." These documents were then folded and inserted into Volume 1 of The American Archives collection. Of the Rice paper printings of 1848-9, it is believed that Peter Force printed between 900 and 1200 copies as the retail cost limited the number of clients. It is not known precisely how many "rice wet ink transfers" survive. The Federal Government retains ownership of this plate, and, on occasion displays the plate for public viewing.
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