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DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE Printed Lithograph

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Autographs

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Extraordinary Rarity 1866 Ornate San Francisco Printed “Declaration of Independence” (Our Cover Photograph.)

(DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE), Dated 1866, Engraved by John A. Fuller, Published by E. Fletcher, W. Vallance Gray, Lithographer, San Francisco, (CA.), Choice Extremely Fine.
A truly spectacular, multicolor Printed Lithograph, 26” x 20” (sight), professionally matted and framed to an overall 34” x 28,” having a magnificent presentation. The masthead title reads: “FREEDOM’S FOOTSTEPS. - THE THIRTEEN UNITED COLONIES - IN ORDER AS THEY ADOPTED THE CONSTITUTION”.

Printed in Red, Blue, and Black. The highly ornate central bottom vignette has the date “1866” within the shield device. A 10” wide American Eagle is shown at top, his talons holding a pair of decorative American flags, each being tipped with a Liberty Cap. In very small printed text at the very bottom left edge reads: “Executed and published by John A. Fuller Nevada County, Cal.”. There is a 4” tear from the bottom edge at “h” in John 1” upwards and then diagonal towards the left edge partially obscuring the “h” and being of little consequence. The far right bottom text reads: “Printed by E. Fletcher 308 Front St. S.F.”. The more extensive central bottom text which reads: “Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1866, by John A. Fuller in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the Northern District of California - W. VALLANCE GRAY, LITH. S.F.”.

Numerous highly decorative and ornate devices adorn this large print throughout, from top to bottom and side to side. At the very center is a round Seal of the United States with a Heraldic Eagle within blue fields. The large central oval is dominated by a printed “DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE” with the Signers below, in facsimile. Surrounding that oval are sixteen smaller ovals with multicolor outer borders listing the first Sixteen Presidents of the United States, listing their order, birth date, election date and term of service, from George Washington at top and ending with Abraham Lincoln ... “...but was Assassinated April 14th at Ford’s Theater Washington, D.C. succeeded by Vice President A. Johnson.” at bottom.

Other ornate devices incorporated into the design include, Scrolls at the top representing the “Constitution” and (Washington’s) “Farewell Address”; Massive Grecian Styled Pillars on either side listing some of the major Battles of the Revolutionary War with “Bunker Hill June 17, 1775” and “Lexington April 19, 1775” listed at their pinnacles. Also adorning the top portion are Thirteen separate shield devices with each of the original Thirteen Colonies names and dates printed within and hanging as if banners. The lower section records all of the additional new states added since then, up through Minnesota in 1860. Plus much, much, more!

The first we have seen and ever offered, and certainly Exceedingly Rare as a San Francisco Lithograph of 1866. Not listed in Mantle Fieldings. Some very light humidity tone at the very bottom edge, not inspected out of frame. This print remains extremely colorful, well printed and superbly attractive. When first inspected, it was obvious and so impressive, that it instantly became our overwhelming choice for the front color photo image for this catalog.

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