Lot 446
Dunlap, John (1747-1812) Printer and patriot. He came to America from Ireland and lived with his uncle, who was an established printer in Philadelphia. Dunlap started his own newspaper, "The Pennsylvania Packet" in 1784; it was the first daily newspaper in the U.S. During the Revolution, he was an officer in the First Troop of the Philadelphia Cavalry, which became the bodyguard of Washington at Trenton and Princeton. In 1780, he gave £4,000 to supply the Revolutionary Army. Dunlap was appointed Printer to Congress during the Revolution and printed the first "broadside copies" of the Declaration of Independence. Anticipating the significance of that now-sacred document, he used a special, higher-rag-content paper. Only 25 copies are known to exist today, the last one having sold for $8.14 million. After the Revolution, Dunlap and his later parter, David Claypoole, printed the Constitution of the United States, for use by the Constitutional Convention.
Oversized Document Signed twice by John Dunlap, 11x26¾", vellum, Philadelphia, 1 Nov. 1799. Fine. Being a deed for the sale of property at 10th Street (near Prospect Alley) and Mulberry Street by "John Dunlap…Printer and his wife Elizabeth" to "Adam May a Baker in the City. Dunlap's wife Elizabeth signed once, witness Ann Dunlap signed once, and witness Thomas Smith signed three times. A lovely document with only minor age yellowing.
Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000.
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| Realized $920 |
