Lot 360
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE - Peter Force Rice Paper Copy. Exceptionally beautiful rice paper copy of the Declaration of Independence printed by Peter Force in 1848 from William J. Stone's original copperplate, 29" x 25½". Very fine; minor archival fold repairs on verso are practically invisible; normal folds are very faint, as is the ink offset.
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. Force's copies were distinguished from the original by an engraving in the lower left corner, "W.J. STONE SC. WASHN." After printing, the plate was again retired and is now displayed at the National 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 they are becoming difficult to find, especially in such splendid condition as the copy offered here.
Estimated Value $20,000 - 25,000.
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| Realized $25,300 |
