Related

• - Browse neighboring items by call number.
• Collection: Cartoon Prints, American
• Collection: Popular Graphic Arts

• Title: Declaration of Independence
• Creator(s): Binns, John, 1772-1860, copyright claimant
• Related Names:
     Bridport, George , artist
     Sully, Thomas, 1783-1872 , artist
     Stuart, Gilbert, 1755-1828 , artist
     Otis, Bass, 1784-1861 , artist
     Copley, John Singleton, 1738-1815 , artist
     Murray, George, -1822 , engraver
     Parker, Charles H., approximately 1795-1819 , engraver
     Longacre, James Barton, 1794-1869 , engraver
     Adams, John Quincy, 1767-1848.
• Date Created/Published: [United States] : [Publisher not identified], [1818, published 1819] (Printed by James Porter)
• Medium: 1 print on wove paper : engraving and etching ; sheet 91.8 x 68 cm.
• Summary: 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, and arrows, holding a streamer reading "E Pluribus Unum." An incomplete state of the print was deposited for copyright by John Binns on November 4, 1818. It was accompanied by a prospectus card which describes the print thus: "A Splendid Edition of the Declaration of Independence. The Design in imitation of Bas Relief, will encircle the Declaration as a cordon of honor, surmounted by the Arms of the United States. Immediately underneath the arms, will be a large medallion portrait of General George Washington, supported by cornucopiae, and embellished with spears, flags, and other Military trophies and emblems. On the one side of this medallion portrait, will be a similar portrait of John Hancock,...and on the other, a portrait of Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence. "The arms of 'The Thirteen United States' in medallion, united by wreaths of olive leaves, will form the remainder of the cordon, which will be further enriched by some of the characteristic productions of the United States; such as the Tobacco and Indigo plants, the Cotton Shrub, Rice &c. The fac similes [sic] will be engraved by Mr. Vallance, who will execute the important part of the publication at the City of Washington, where, by permission of the Secretary of State, he will have the original signatures constantly under his eye." 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 Imitations." The "Port Folio" magazine (Philadelphia) for January 1819 reports, "We have at length been gratified with the sight of a proof-sheet of the splendid copy of the 'declaration of Independence;' and we declare that it deserves the most liberal support . . . ." The writer goes on to mention that Binns's print prompted a rash of inferior imitations.
• Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-pga-01013 (digital file from original) LC-USZ62-5780 (b&w film copy neg.) LC-USZ6-226 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of Georgia) LC-USZ6-227 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of South Carolina) LC-USZ6-228 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of Virginia) LC-USZ6-229 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of Delaware) LC-USZ6-230 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of New Jersey) LC-USZ6-231 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of Connecticut) LC-USZ6-232 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of Massachusetts) LC-USZ6-236 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of New Hampshire) LC-USZ6-237 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of Rhode Island) LC-USZ6-238 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of New York) LC-USZ6-239 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of Pennsylvania) LC-USZ6-240 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of Maryland) LC-USZ6-241 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of North Carolina) LC-USZ6-233 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, John Hancock) LC-USZ6-234 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, George Washington) LC-USZ6-235 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, Thomas Jefferson)
• Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
  
• Call Number: PGA - Binns (J.)--Declaration of Independence (D size) [P&P]
• Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
• Notes:
  • Title from item.
  • Publication date based on copyright statement on item.
  • Printed across bottom: Originally designed by John Binns. Ornamental part drawn by Geo. Bridport. Arms of the United States, and the Thirteen States drawn from Official Documents by Thos. Sully. Portrait of Genl. Washington, painted in 1795 by Stuart. Portrait of Thomas Jefferson, painted in 1816 by Otis. Portrait of John Hancock, painted in 1765 by Copley. Ornamental Part, Arms of the United States, and the Thirteen States, engraved by Geo. Murray. The writing designed and engraved by C.H. Parker. Portraits engraved by J.B.Longacre. Printed by James Porter.
  • Sheet trimmed to within plate mark at top and sides.
  • Hart, 594
  • Forms part of: Popular graphic art print filing series (Library of Congress).
  • Published in: American political prints, 1766-1876 / Bernard F. Reilly. Boston : G.K. Hall, 1991, entry 1819-1.
• Subjects:
  • Washington, George,--1732-1799.
  • Jefferson, Thomas,--1743-1826.
  • Hancock, John,--1737-1793.
  • United States.--Declaration of Independence--1810-1820.
  • State seals--1810-1820.
• Format:
  • Engravings--1810-1820.
  • Portrait prints--1810-1820.
• Collections:
  • Cartoon Prints, American
  • Popular Graphic Arts
• Part of: Popular graphic art print filing series (Library of Congress)
• Bookmark This Record:
     https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2003690785/

View the MARC Record for this item.

The Library of Congress generally does not own rights to material in its collections and, therefore, cannot grant or deny permission to publish or otherwise distribute the material. For further rights information, see "Rights Information" below and the Rights and Restrictions Information page ( https://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/rights.html ).

• Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
• Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-pga-01013 (digital file from original) LC-USZ62-5780 (b&w film copy neg.) LC-USZ6-226 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of Georgia) LC-USZ6-227 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of South Carolina) LC-USZ6-228 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of Virginia) LC-USZ6-229 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of Delaware) LC-USZ6-230 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of New Jersey) LC-USZ6-231 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of Connecticut) LC-USZ6-232 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of Massachusetts) LC-USZ6-236 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of New Hampshire) LC-USZ6-237 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of Rhode Island) LC-USZ6-238 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of New York) LC-USZ6-239 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of Pennsylvania) LC-USZ6-240 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of Maryland) LC-USZ6-241 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, seal of North Carolina) LC-USZ6-233 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, John Hancock) LC-USZ6-234 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, George Washington) LC-USZ6-235 (b&w film copy neg. of detail, Thomas Jefferson)
• Call Number: PGA - Binns (J.)--Declaration of Independence (D size) [P&P]
• Medium: 1 print on wove paper : engraving and etching ; sheet 91.8 x 68 cm.

If an image is displaying, you can download it yourself. (Some images display only as thumbnails outside the Library of Congress because of rights considerations, but you have access to larger size images on site.)

Alternatively, you can purchase copies of various types through Library of Congress Duplication Services.

1. If a digital image is displaying: The qualities of the digital image partially depend on whether it was made from the original or an intermediate such as a copy negative or transparency. If the Reproduction Number field above includes a reproduction number that starts with LC-DIG..., then there is a digital image that was made directly from the original and is of sufficient resolution for most publication purposes.
2. If there is information listed in the Reproduction Number field above: You can use the reproduction number to purchase a copy from Duplication Services. It will be made from the source listed in the parentheses after the number.

   If only black-and-white ("b&w") sources are listed and you desire a copy showing color or tint (assuming the original has any), you can generally purchase a quality copy of the original in color by citing the Call Number listed above and including the catalog record ("About This Item") with your request.

3. If there is no information listed in the Reproduction Number field above: You can generally purchase a quality copy through Duplication Services. Cite the Call Number listed above and include the catalog record ("About This Item") with your request.

Price lists, contact information, and order forms are available on the Duplication Services Web site.

• Call Number: PGA - Binns (J.)--Declaration of Independence (D size) [P&P]
• Medium: 1 print on wove paper : engraving and etching ; sheet 91.8 x 68 cm.

Please use the following steps to determine whether you need to fill out a call slip in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room to view the original item(s). In some cases, a surrogate (substitute image) is available, often in the form of a digital image, a copy print, or microfilm.

1. Is the item digitized? (A thumbnail (small) image will be visible on the left.)

   • Yes, the item is digitized. Please use the digital image in preference to requesting the original. All images can be viewed at a large size when you are in any reading room at the Library of Congress. In some cases, only thumbnail (small) images are available when you are outside the Library of Congress because the item is rights restricted or has not been evaluated for rights restrictions.

     As a preservation measure, we generally do not serve an original item when a digital image is available. If you have a compelling reason to see the original, consult with a reference librarian. (Sometimes, the original is simply too fragile to serve. For example, glass and film photographic negatives are particularly subject to damage. They are also easier to see online where they are presented as positive images.)

   • No, the item is not digitized. Please go to #2.

2. Do the Access Advisory or Call Number fields above indicate that a non-digital surrogate exists, such as microfilm or copy prints?

   • Yes, another surrogate exists. Reference staff can direct you to this surrogate.

   • No, another surrogate does not exist. Please go to #3.

3. If you do not see a thumbnail image or a reference to another surrogate, please fill out a call slip in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room. In many cases, the originals can be served in a few minutes. Other materials require appointments for later the same day or in the future. Reference staff can advise you in both how to fill out a call slip and when the item can be served.

To contact Reference staff in the Prints and Photographs Reading Room, please use our Ask A Librarian service or call the reading room between 8:30 and 5:00 at 202-707-6394, and Press 3.