[Declaration of Independence]

In Congress, July 4, 1776, The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America. Washington: Engraved by W. J. Stone, [reprinted by Peter Force, 1848]



Folio broadside on rice paper (30 1/4 x 25 1/4 in.; 768 x 642 mm, sight); faint dampstain in lower right corner, two light stains in upper left margin, minor marginal cockling. Framed and glazed.

A fine copy on paper of the Declaration of Independence from the W. J. Stone copperplate, without the usual foldmarks.

Stone's surviving copperplate was used by Peter Force (1790–1868) to print impressions of the facsimile on rice paper with a tone similar to that of parchment. These were intended for inclusion in a planned compilation of important American documents entitled American Archives, prepared at the behest of Congress. Force deleted Stone's original 1823 imprint in the upper portion of the plate, and added a new imprint "W. J. Stone sc. Washn," in the lower left.

Though 1,500 copies of the Force imprint were authorized by Congress, subscriptions were few and perhaps only 500 were issued.