Declaration of Independence (William Stone Engraving)
National Archives
Since the rushed printing of the Declaration of Independence on the night of July 4–5, 1776 (see Declaration of Independence – Dunlap broadside), numerous versions of the country’s foundational document have been made. The one best known to Americans today was made in 1823.
By 1820, the signed parchment Declaration was visibly deteriorating. Then Secretary of State John Quincy Adams wanted an accurate permanent record made, so he commissioned Washington, D.C. engraver William Stone to produce a copy. In 1823, Stone sold his engraved copperplate copy of the Declaration to the State Department. From that engraving, the department printed 200 copies on parchment and distributed those to official repositories, specific officeholders, and the surviving signers of the Declaration.
Today, fewer than 50 copies of the original 200 are known to exist. The Bangor Historical Society has one of them, donated by a Newburgh resident in 1914. It is periodically displayed to the public.
Author: Stephanie Bouchard
