Early Edition of U.S. Declaration Exhibited

One of the first 11 printed copies of the Declaration of Independence is on exhibition at Widener Library until Monday. Also on exhibit are copies of the first editions printed in Salem, Massachusetts, and Newport, Rhode Island.

The first 11 copies were printed on the night of July 4 or the morning of July 5, 1776, in Philadelphia. The long hand, vellum copy signed by the delegates was copied from the same original used for this edition.