Declaration of Independence
[Washington, D.C.], ca. 1818
Benjamin Owen Tyler Declaration of Independence, 1818
Engraving

A splendid copperplate engraved broadside of the Declaration of Independence, widely considered to be the "first correct copy" of the foundational document. "In Congress, July 4th 1776. The Unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America," Washington, D.C., ca. 1818. Drawn by Benjamin Owen Tyler (1789-after 1855), and engraved by Newark, New Jersey printmaker Peter Maverick (1780-1831). The broadside is mounted on a light canvas backing for stability. Expected wear including toning. Isolated stains, surface abrasions, pinholes, loose threads, and flyspecking. Else near fine. Trimmed to a completed size of 25.75" x 32.5." One of the best copies we've seen, and a striking example of the first publication of the original document.

The Tyler facsimile of the Declaration of Independence included several additions found outside the margins at the bottom; lower left; upper left; and upper right. These additions pertained to information about publication; testimonials; and dedications. Printed along the bottom outside the image: "Copied from the original Declaration of Independence in the Department of State, and Published by Benjamin Owen Tyler, Professor of Penmanship, City of Washington, 1818. The publisher designed and executed the ornamental writing, and has been particular to copy the Facsimiles exact, and has also observed the same punctuation, and copied every Capital in the original. Engraved by Peter Maverick, Newark, NJ." At lower left is a facsimile of a letter written by Acting Secretary of State Richard Rush dated September 10, 1817 testifying to the accuracy of Tyler's copy, noting that "those [signatures] executed by Mr Tyler are curiously exact imitations; so much so that it would be difficult if not impossible… to distinguish them [from the originals]." At upper left and upper right, Tyler has effusively dedicated his work to Thomas Jefferson, "Patron of the Arts, firm supporter of American Independence, and the Rights of Man…"

The Tyler facsimile of the Declaration of Independence champions both style and accuracy. It is certainly a work of art, thanks to its highly decorative calligraphic flourishes. Tyler, a professor of penmanship and stenography, as well as a freelance calligrapher, used the medium of copper plate engraving to achieve a greater degree of embellishment and variation compared to letterpress broadsides. Tyler converted "emphatical words," as he called them, into flowery, Gothic, shaded, and bold lettering. In this way, Tyler highlighted such words in the document as Life, Liberty, Justice, Cruelty, Perfidy, Oppressions, Redress, Divine Providence, Fortunes, and Honor.

At the same time, Tyler's facsimile also faithfully reproduced the content of the Declaration of Independence, and reproduced the Signers' signatures to an astonishing degree of exactitude. Historian John Bidwell notes: "Tyler… retained every stroke and nuance of his models, preserving their proportions, stress, and weight … so convincing are his signatures that they masquerade as the originals in a recent book on American autographs" (John Bidwell, "American History in Image and Text," "Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society," 1988, Vol. 98, pp. 247-302; 256.)

Tyler's facsimile fulfilled a need in post-War of 1812 American society for a true copy of the Declaration of Independence, a seminal document of such ideological and political significance. Versions of the Declaration of Independence published prior to the Tyler facsimile differed from the original document, notably in the title, as well as in the omission of the names of the Signers. Americans wanted to rediscover their new national identity as the Founding Fathers began to die off.

The Tyler facsimile was printed on paper and sold for $5 each. Although Tyler claimed to have received orders for more than 3,000 copies of his broadside, this is almost certainly hyperbole. Tyler's original subscription book, held in the Albert H. Small Declaration of Independence Collection at the University of Virginia, lists just over 1,000 subscribers.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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25.75" x 32.5"