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Book/Printed Material In Congress, July 4, 1776, a declaration by the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled Also known as: Dunlap Declaration of Independence

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About this Item

Title

  • In Congress, July 4, 1776, a declaration by the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled

Other Title

  • Also known as: Dunlap Declaration of Independence

Summary

  • This document is the first printed version of the American Declaration of Independence. On June 7, 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduced a resolution urging Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, to declare independence from Great Britain. Four days later, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston were appointed as a committee to draft a declaration of independence. The committee's draft was read in Congress on June 28. On July 4, Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, containing a list of grievances against the British crown. The document was printed and circulated throughout the colonies in the form of a broadside. Broadsides were large sheets of paper, usually printed on one side, that were popular in the 18th century as a means for the rapid distribution of important information. They were posted in town halls and coffee houses, read in churches and public meetings, and often reprinted or excerpted in local newspapers. World Digital Library.

Names

  • United States
  • Dunlap, John, 1747-1812
  • Force, Peter, 1790-1868, former owner
  • Ridgely, David, 1790?-1841?
  • Printed Ephemera Collection (Library of Congress)

Created / Published

  • Philadelphia : Printed by John Dunlap, [1776]

Genre

  • Broadsides--Pennsylvania--Philadelphia

Notes

  • -  "Signed by order and in behalf of the Congress, John Hancock, President. Attest., Charles Thomson, Secretary."
  • -  Goff notes a difference in the placement of the imprint in two states of the broadside. In the earlier state the "P" of Philadephia is under the comma after Thomson's name, in the later state the "P" is under the "n" in Thomson's name.
  • -  LC copy is the second state. Inscribed on verso in ink: Independence.
  • -  The first printing of the Declaration of Independence.
  • -  ESTC W14406
  • -  Evans 15155
  • -  Goff, F.R. John Dunlap broadside, 10
  • -  Walsh, M.J. Broadside editions of the Declaration of Independence. (Harvard Library Bulletin 3 (1949): 31-43), 1
  • -  LC copy has pencilled inscription on verso in Ridgely's hand: For Col. P. Force, Washington, from D. Ridgely, Annapolis.
  • -  LAC tnb 2021-09-16 no edits (2 cards)

Medium

  • 1 sheet ([1] p.) ; 47 x 38 cm.

Call Number/Physical Location

  • Broadside portfolio 39b

Digital Id

Library of Congress Control Number

  • 2003576546

Online Format

  • pdf
  • image

Additional Metadata Formats

IIIF Presentation Manifest

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress is not aware of any U.S. copyright or any other restrictions in the documents in this collection. However, some of the content may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) and/or by the copyright or neighboring-rights laws of other nations. Additionally, the reproduction of some materials may be restricted by privacy and/or publicity rights. The determination of the status of an item ultimately rests with the person desiring to reproduce or use the item.

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Credit Line: Library of Congress, Rare Book and Special Collections Division

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Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

United States, John Dunlap, Peter Force, David Ridgely, and Printed Ephemera Collection. In Congress, July 4, a declaration by the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled. [Philadelphia: Printed by John Dunlap, 1776] Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/2003576546/.

APA citation style:

United States, Dunlap, J., Force, P., Ridgely, D. & Printed Ephemera Collection. (1776) In Congress, July 4, a declaration by the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled. [Philadelphia: Printed by John Dunlap] [Pdf] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2003576546/.

MLA citation style:

United States, et al. In Congress, July 4, a declaration by the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress assembled. [Philadelphia: Printed by John Dunlap, 1776] Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/2003576546/>.