Rare copy of U.S. Declaration of Independence found in UK archives

A volunteer sorting through historical documents at the UK's National Archives in Kew has made a remarkable discovery: a rare copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. The document, unearthed in February, was found among records belonging to Royal Navy officers from the era of the American Revolutionary War.

This particular copy is one of just 11 that were printed in Exeter, New Hampshire, in July 1776. The intention was to disseminate the news of the American colonies' independence, but this copy later fell into British hands. Michael Sear, the volunteer who found it, described the moment of discovery as filled with "agony and excitement," calling his superior over to "take a look at this."

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I think you need to come and take a look at this

Director-General of the National Archives, Saul Nassé, hailed the find as an "exceptional discovery," emphasizing its rarity and the fact that it was found in Britain, not America. The document was seized by the Royal Navy on Christmas Eve 1776 when the HMS Raisonable captured the American ship Dalton off the coast of Portugal.

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exceptional discovery

Dr. Graham Moore of the National Archives noted that this is one of the rarest editions of the Declaration, as copies from that period were printed for immediate distribution rather than long-term preservation. The document had remained largely "hidden" within state archives for centuries, miscategorized by the naval officer who recorded it simply as "another document."

Following conservation work to stabilize the paper and repair minor damage, the precious copy will be displayed at the National Archives' exhibition, "Revolution 250: America’s Independence Story, 1763-1783," offering the public a unique glimpse into American history.

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one of the rarest editions of the Declaration