In 1819, Binns published a facsimile version of the Declaration of Independence with engravings of the original signatures, seals of each of the states, and portraits of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Hancock. In 1816, Irish-born Philadelphia publisher John Binns publicly proposed printing a large, ceremonial engraving of the text of the Declaration of Independence, including facsimile signatures, that he would sell for $10 ($13 colored). In 1819, Binns published a facsimile version of the Declaration of Independence with engravings of the original signatures, seals of each of the states, and portraits of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Hancock. Binns wanted to have his copy adopted as official, and one was displayed in the House of Representatives. For political reasons—and perhaps because Binns failed to include an engraving of John Adams—John Quincy Adams soon after commissioned William J. Stone to make an exact facsimile (in 1823). Lower edge has attestation from Secretary of State John Quincy Adams. "Department of State 19th April 1819 I certify that this is a CORRECT Copy of the original Declaration of Independence deposited at this Department and I have compared all the signatures with those of the original and have found them EXACT IMITATIONS. [signed] John Quincy Adams". Historical Background In 1816 the publisher John Binns was first to announce plans to publish a decorative broadside of the Declaration of Independence, to be sold by subscription for $10 each. The project was completed in 1819, by which time four others had already imitated the idea and issued less ornate and less expensive copies, including a pirated copy of the Binns. Binns later said that Few copies of the Declaration of Independence were circulated in 1776, but numerous ceremonial copies were published in the surge of patriotism following the War of 1812. “To John Adams from John Binns, 2 September 1819,” Founders Online, National Archives, [This is an Early Access document from The Adams Papers. It is not an authoritative final version.] At the bottom of the print appears an endorsement by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams which reads, "Department of State, 19th, April 1819. I certify, that this is a Correct copy of the original Declaration of Independence, deposited at this Department; and that I have compared all the signatures of the original, and found them Exact At the bottom of the print appears an endorsement by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams which reads, "Department of State, 19th, April 1819. I certify, that this is a Correct copy of the original Declaration of Independence, deposited at this Department; and that I have compared all the signatures of the original, and found them Exact In the keeping room of Dunham Tavern, there hangs a facsimile of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence. Dating to 1855, it was created by engravers J W Allen, A H Wray, & E. McCabe and published in New York. It is based upon a much earlier and even more elaborate facsimile of the entire Declaration, produced in 1819 by publisher John Binns for a $10 subscription fee. The In 1819, Binns published a facsimile version of the Declaration of Independence with engravings of the original signatures, seals of each of the states, and portraits of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Hancock. Binns published an autobiography in 1854. Printed by James Porter, with the facsimile signatures by Tanner, Vallance, Kearny, and Company. Text at the bottom of the broadside identifies the document as being a correct copy of the original Declaration of Independence, signed with a facsimile signature by John Quincy Adams. Matted and framed to the overall size of 32" x 41.5". In 1819, Binns published a facsimile version of the Declaration of Independence with engravings of the original signatures, seals of each of the states, and portraits of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Hancock. Binns published an autobiography in 1854. Secretary of State John Quincy Adams commissioned William J. Stone, a Washington engraver, to produce an official facsimile on copperplate of the Declaration text and signatures for the United States government. To appeal to growing American patriotic sentiments, John Binns began work on “a splendid and correct copy of the Declaration of Independence, with fac-similes of all the signatures, the whole to be encircled with the arms of the thirteen States and of the United States” in June of 1816. About 1820, Adams commissioned Washington engraver William Stone to produce a facsimile of the Declaration text and signatures. Stone completed engraving the copperplate in June 1823 and sold it to the State Department, which had 200 copies printed on parchment. 1 print on wove paper : engraving and etching ; sheet 91.8 x 68 cm. | Print shows a facsimile of the Declaration of Independence, in an ornamental oval frame with medallions of seals of the thirteen original colonies, and medallion portraits of John Hancock, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson. Above is an eagle with shield, olive branch John Binns’ Scarce & Most Decorative Early Declaration of Independence Facsimile (1819)The King’s Attorney Bills Connecticut – including cost of putting down a church riot (over tithing and ecclesiastical conflict between MA. & CT.) – and Suing Stamp Tax Collectors Return for Lt. John Hicks’s Company at West Point Boston Newspaper Publishes Former Governor Hutchinson’s Letters An Here are examples of important printings and facsimiles of the Declaration of Independence—ranging from broadsides and newspapers printed in July 1776 to William J. Stone’s copperplate engraving and other, more decorative, early 19th century prints. Our chronological list of July 1776 and other significant Declaration-related imprints, including the earliest notices of independence is
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