An extremely rare copy of the Declaration of Independence, printed shortly after the original signing, has been discovered among Revolutionary War letters at Britain's National Archives. The document, identified as an early Exeter printing, is the only known copy of its kind to exist outside of the United States.
Michael Scurr, a volunteer at the National Archives, found the document in May while cataloging the papers of an 18th-century Royal Navy captain. Attached to a report about the capture of an American privateer, the Dalton, the document was initially identified only as 'another paper.' Upon unfolding it, Scurr recognized the title 'Declaration of Independence.'
Researchers confirmed the document as one of just 11 known original copies of the Exeter printing, produced by John Dunlap in Exeter, New Hampshire, between July 16 and 19, 1776. This specific printing is notable for a misspelling of Founding Father Charles Thomson's name.
The discovery was unveiled by the National Archives just ahead of the 250th anniversary of American independence. Its presence on the captured privateer Dalton is significant, suggesting its role in communicating the colonists' resolve to fight.
Amanda Bevan, head of the National Archives' project to catalog Royal Navy captains' correspondence during the Revolution, explained that the document's capture indicates its importance to the Continental Congress. While the Continental Army's struggles are well-documented, the contributions of those who fought at sea have received less attention. Bevan believes the Dalton's captain likely read the Declaration aloud to his crew, providing them with a clear articulation of the ideals they were fighting for.
The 18-gun Dalton was a privately owned vessel commissioned by the Continental Congress to supplement the new nation's fledgling navy. It was captured on Christmas Eve 1776 off the coast of Portugal by HMS Raisonnable, commanded by Captain Thomas Fitzherbert. The Dalton's 120-man crew was subsequently imprisoned in England.
Fitzherbert sent the Declaration copy to the British Admiralty, rather than a wartime court, a move some researchers believe indicates his awareness of the document's significance. The document sustained a tear that has since been repaired by historians.
Matthew Skic, director of collections and exhibitions at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, hailed the discovery as a tangible connection to the past, allowing historians to visualize the transfer of ideals during the war. He noted that such finds demonstrate that much about the American Revolution remains to be uncovered, even 250 years later.
Of the estimated 200 Dunlap-printed copies produced, only 26 are known to have survived. For the Exeter printing, only 10 copies are believed to exist, with one having sold for $5.6 million in January. The National Archives' copy is the sole example located outside the U.S.
