2009-04
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/31/2009
Broadside, "IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776. The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America," 24-3/4,"x30-5/16." In 1820 John Quincy Adams, then Secretary of State, commissioned William J. Stone of Washington to create exact copies of the Declaration using a "new" Wet-Ink Transfer process. Although there were earlier printings of the Declaration, this was the first and only exact reproduction. The 201 official vellum copies struck from the William Stone plate carry the identification "Engraved by W. J. Stone for the Department of State, by order" in the upper left corner followed by "of J. Q. Adams, Sec. of State July 4th 1824." in the upper right corner. By law, the William Stone Declaration of Independence was limited to 200 copies. The joint resolution by the Senate and House of Representatives provided for distribution of the 200 copies as follows: (2) copies each to the surviving signers John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Charles Carroll of Carrollton; (2) two copies to the President of the United States (Monroe); (2) two copies to the Vice-President of the United States (Tompkins); (2) two copies to the late President, Mr. Madison; (2) two copies to the Marquis de Lafayette; (20) twenty copies for the two houses of Congress; (12) twelve copies for the different departments of the Government (State, Treasury, Justice, Navy, War and Postmaster); (2) two copies for the President's House; (2) two copies for the Supreme Court room, (1) one copy to each of the Governors of the States; and (1) one to each of the Governors of the Territories of the United States; (1) and one copy to the Council of each Territory; and the remaining copies to the different Universities and Colleges of the United States, as the President of the United States may direct." "Unofficial" copies that were struck later do not have the identification at the top of the document nor were they printed on vellum. Instead the engraver identified his work by engraving "W. J. Stone SC. Washn." near the lower left corner and burnishing out the earlier identification, and printed on paper. Again, we are offering the Official 1823 copy. The original plate is owned by the Federal Government and is displayed at the National Archives Experience Exhibition. In 1848 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 this Government-owned "Wet Ink" copper plate was removed from storage and altered once again to reflect the 1848 printing. Then, by virtue of an Act of Congress, Peter Force was permitted to print copies on rice paper from the actual "Wet Ink" copper Plate. The copper plate was not used again until 1976 when several copies were printed for the Bicentennial Celebration. The 1823 copper plate currently remains in storage at the National Archives and is not scheduled to be used again until the celebration of the Tercentennial in the year 2076. According to current censuses, there are (35) thirty-five surviving copies of the William Stone vellum printing of the Declaration. Twenty-four of which are recorded in Institutional holdings as follows: American Philosophical Society; Boston Public Library; Carroll Foundation; Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library; Gilder Lehrman Collection; Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village; Harvard University, Houghton Library; Indiana University, Lilly Library; Jefferson County Court House, Kentucky; Library of Congress [2 copies]; Maryland Historical Society; Massachusetts Historical Society, Adams Papers [2 copies]; New Hampshire Archives [2 copies]; New Haven Historical Society; New York Public Library; Rhode Island State Archives; Tennessee State Archives; Smithsonian Institution; Sweet Briar College; Virginia State Library Archives; The White House. *Information compiled from William R. Coleman, "Counting the Stones: A Census of the Stone Facsimiles of the Declaration of Independence," Manuscripts 43 (Spring 1991). Additionally, there are twelve known copies in private collections. *Information supplied by Seth Kaller, Seth Kaller, Inc. This extraordinary example was conserved by Etherington Conservation Center, Inc. Among many important documents Etherington has worked on include; Virginia's Bill of Rights, The Magna Carta, The Surrender of Gen. Cornwallis, Dunlap broadside of the Declaration of Independence as well two other William Stone Declarations. The four month conservation effort included; removal of a linen carrier, minor vellum fill to margins only, moisture balancing to remove curl, and meticulous removal of surface varnish which had been applied well after the printing. The original printing itself required no conservation at all and is remains as printed, deep and dark. (The original ink was protected over the years by the later applied varnish, which has been removed in the conservation process.) This specific William Stone Printed Declaration of Independence was purchased at Raynors' Historical Collectible Auctions in March of 2007, by a national non-profit organization with a deep passion for the Founding Fathers and the principles of freedom and prosperity the Fathers ingrained in our country. The non-profit organization works in an effort to promote these core principles in our country today. After an exclusive unveiling during the 2007 Independence Day celebrations that was attended by a vast array of prominent public and private individuals, the organization used the document, and all it represents, in a number of worthy fundraising efforts. These fundraising efforts have supported Juvenile Diabetes, the United Way, College Scholarships and other worthy causes. In addition, the organization has generously allowed viewings at numerous public schools, using the document as a symbol designed to focus students on the nation's democratic principles. Although the non-profit will continue its charitable works, it has refocused its presentation into multi-media and print publications. Since the sale of this document in March of 2007 for a record price of $471,000, only one other William Stone Printed Declaration of Independence has come to market, which sold for a record-breaking $690,000. The William Stone Printed Declaration of Independence is, in so many ways, a living document which continues its good work.
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