Fine Books & Manuscripts

[Declaration of Independence] Peter Force Engraving of the Declaration of Independence. One page; 29 x 26”. Rice paper engraving from volume I of Peter Force’s 1837-1853 series of books, “American Archives”. By 1820, the original Declaration had begun to deteriorate leading John Quincy Adams to commission William J. Stone to produce a facsimile. Stone’s copperplate was created by lifting ink directly from the original and creating a perfect copy. He printed 201 before placing the plate in storage. In 1843, Peter Force was commissioned by Congress to print series of books of important American documents, The American Archives. The stone engraving was removed for the occasion and used to produced new copies on rice paper. While 1,500 sets were authorized, subscriptions were low and many fewer copies, perhaps as low as 500, were printed. Spotty red stain in bottom right corner, separation along vertical fold in bottom right quadrant, small hole at crossfolds in upper left quadrant. Scarce and highly collectable.