The Surprising Custody of America’s Declaration of Independence

A recently uncovered copy of the Declaration of Independence, printed in July 1776 in Exeter, is now on display at The National Archives in London. This discovery adds to the four original copies in the United Kingdom, surprising many. On a visit to the British National Archives, I held an original July 4, 1776, copy without gloves, which was unexpected.

The U.K. holds four 1776 copies of the Declaration. These include three Dunlap Broadsides Copies and the newly discovered Exeter Print. The Exeter Print’s existence became known last month when it was found inside letters and logs from the American ship Dalton, intercepted by the Royal Navy on December 24, 1776.

The British networks transported one Dunlap Broadside to London in August 1776. Upon its arrival, Lord Germain informed King George III. Two copies were taken without consent—one intercepted and one seized militarily. These documents, seen as a ‘Dear John’ letter by the British, are vital pieces of American history.

Two hundred fifty years after declaring independence, there’s been no request from the U.S. government for the return of these documents. With America’s recent 250th independence anniversary, it’s time for the U.S. leaders and State Department to pursue their repatriation.

The U.K. exhibits one Dunlap Broadside under ‘The Path to American Independence’, and plans to also display the Exeter Print. One Dunlap Broadside is temporarily in the U.S., exhibited at the Philadelphia Museum of the American Revolution. This copy was taken from Jonas Phillips, attached with a letter in Yiddish.