The UK National Archives in London has announced the discovery of a rare copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, printed in July 1776 in Exeter, New Hampshire. The document was found among the papers of a captured American ship from the Revolutionary War era.
Discovery Details
The copy was identified by archivists during a routine cataloging of records from the High Court of Admiralty, which dealt with captured enemy ships. According to a spokesperson for the National Archives, the document is one of only a few known copies of the so-called "Exeter printing," produced just weeks after the original Declaration was adopted on July 4, 1776.
The Exeter printing is historically significant because it was one of the first broadside editions distributed to the colonies. The newly found copy is in remarkably good condition, though it shows signs of age and handling.
Historical Context
The document was likely seized by British forces when they captured an American vessel during the war. It was then stored among legal records related to prize cases, where it remained unnoticed for centuries. “This is an extraordinary find that sheds light on how the Declaration was disseminated and the global reach of the American Revolution,” said Dr. Emily Carter, a curator at the National Archives.
The discovery comes just ahead of the U.S. Independence Day celebrations, adding a unique transatlantic dimension to the holiday. The National Archives plans to display the copy publicly later this year.
