Volunteer at British archive finds rare Declaration of Independence copy
A volunteer at Britain’s National Archives has discovered a rare early edition of the Declaration of Independence among 18th-century naval records. The document is one of only 11 surviving copies of the Exeter printing and was found in papers from a captured American ship.
Amalgamated from NY Post (opens in new tab), The Independent (opens in new tab), The Guardian US (opens in new tab)
A volunteer at Britain’s National Archives in Kew discovered a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence while examining historical documents. The find occurred during the processing of records belonging to a Royal Navy captain from the 18th century.
The document was located among materials associated with an American privateer ship that had been captured by British forces. Both The Independent and the NY Post reported that the text was found within a collection of naval files dating back several centuries.
Details of the discovery
The specific version identified in the records is known as the Exeter printing. According to The Guardian, this particular edition is one of only 11 surviving copies currently in existence.
Furthermore, The Guardian reports that this is the only copy of this specific printing known to be located outside of the United States. The discovery was made by Michael Scurr while he was performing his duties at the institution in West London, where he was reviewing correspondence and other materials from the Revolutionary War era.
Why this matters
The discovery provides a physical link to the maritime history of the American Revolution. As it is the only known copy of this specific printing located outside of the United States, its presence in British archives highlights the movement of documents between the two nations during the 18th-century conflicts.
What's confirmed / what isn't
All major reporting outlets agree that the document is an Exeter printing and that it was found by a volunteer at Britain's National Archives among records of a captured American ship. The distinction that it is the only such copy outside the United States is specifically highlighted in reports from *The Guardian*.
Background
The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. The "Exeter printing" refers to a specific early edition produced in the late 18th century.