Lot 4051
Declaration of Independence In Peter Force's American Archives. Rare complete set of the nine volumes of Peter Forces American Archives, published from 1837 to 1853, large quarto, one quarter morocco with green marbled boards. Designated Fourth (six volumes) and Fifth (three volumes) Series, covering the years 1774-76. Force projected a 20-volume series of primary sources of American history from the 17th century to 1789, and the work was begun under contract with the Department of State and by Act of Congress. Force stopped work on the project when further funding was not forthcoming. Howes F-245. Sabin 25053.
Volume I, Fifth Series contains a beautiful rice paper copy of the DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. Unfolded, the Declaration measures 29 x 25½ inches. It has normal folds, some light age yellowing at two fold intersections, and very faint ink offset. Otherwise, it remains as printed by Peter Force in 1843. Most copies of the Declaration have been cut from the American Archives and sold individually, the last several copies having sold for over $30,000.
In 1823, William J. Stone was commissioned by Congress to create a copperplate from which facsimile copies of the Declaration could be made. He did this by wetting the original document and transferring some of the original ink to the copperplate. From this plate, Stone printed 201 copies on parchment, which were given to President James Monroe, original Signers, members of Congress, colleges and institutions, etc. Stone's personal copy is in the Smithsonian. Only 31 of Stone's original 201 copies are known to exist; nineteen of these reside in museums and examples are rarely offered for sale.
In 1843, Congress authorized Peter Force to make up to 1500 rice-paper copies of the Declaration from the original Stone copperplate, to be included in his American Archives. Subscriptions were fewer than expected, and the actual number of copies printed is unknown, ranging from 500 to around 1,000. It is not known how many of these copies have survived, but it is extremely rare to find a complete set with the Declaration of Independence intact.
Estimated Value $30,000 - 40,000.
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| Realized $32,200 |
