EXTREMELY RARE AND HIGHLY UNUSUAL FORCE COPY OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE STILL CONTAINED IN THE COMPLETE NINE VOLUME SET
A complete nine volume set containing “A Collection of Authentick Records, State Papers, Debates, and Letters and Other Notices of Public Affairs” which forms “A Documentary History of The Origin and Progress of the North American Colonies; of the Causes and Accomplishment of the American Revolution; and of The Constitution of Government for the United States, to The Final Ratification Thereof” from 1688 through 1787. Prepared and published by the authority of an Act of Congress on Mar 2-3, 1833, by Peter Force, Washington, Apr 1848. Bound in half calf and marbled boards, each 9 x 14 inches.
Especially remarkable in that the fifth volume contains a finely executed copper engraving on rice paper of the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, 29 1/2 x 25 1/2 inches, printed from the original copperplate made by William J. Stone in 1823. Stone was commissioned Secretary of State John Quincy Adams to use a then new Wet-Ink transfer process to create a copperplate from which facsimile copies could then be made. By wetting the original document, some of the original ink was transferred to the copper plate, which was then used for printing. Stone printed 201 copies on parchment. These were distributed to Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, members of Congress, surviving Signers, colleges and universities, etc. Only 31 examples of this printing are known to have survived. Peter Force used the original Stone copperplate to print additional copies to be included in Vol. 1 of the Fifth Series of his American Archives. Congress had authorized up to 1500 copies of the work to be printed, but subscriptions fell far short of that, and perhaps as few as 500 copies were actually produced, though other estimates range as high as a thousand. Most copies of the Declaration have been removed from the volume in which they were issued, and have suffered wear as the result. As such, it is estimated that fewer than 50 copies remain in the world still contained within the original volumes. The example in this volume, inserted after column 1596, evidences approx. 1” tear with no paper loss and is in otherwise excellent condition. Beneath George Walton’s signature is the imprint of “WJ Stone SC Washn.” Other fold-out reproductions include the “Articles of Association” of Oct 20, 1774, which George Washington signed in addition to many others who also signed the Declaration of Independence. Also of great interest is the “oath of silence” to which the members of the Continental Congress bound themselves on Nov 9, 1775. “Resolved That every member of this Congress considers himself under the ties of virtue, honor & love of his Country not to divulge directly or indirectly any matter or thing agitated or debated in Congress…nor any matter of thing determined to Congress which a majority of the Congress shall order to be kept secret, and that if any member shall violate this agreement he shall be expelled from this Congress & deemed an enemy to the liberties of America & liable to be treated as such…” To this document, Buttons Gwinnett, Arthur Middleton, Thomas Lynch and 85 others appended their signatures. Volumes evidence some rubbing, abrasions and some chipping to leather spines; boards worn, joints cracked, internal normal toning, two volumes moderately toned, and occasional foxing and dampstains. The 1823 copper plate currently remains in storage at the National Archives and is not scheduled to be used again until the Tricentennial in 2076.
