John Binns
Declaration of Independence Engraving
Engraving
89.7 x 61 (35 5/16 x 24 in.)
1818 or 1819
John Binns was the publisher of the Republican newspaper,
“The Democratic Press”. The first
published copy of the Declaration of Independence was made on July 4, 1776. It wasn’t until 1818 that Americans
could see the text in engraved writing instead of print. Binns dedicated his work to the people
of the United States when he finished his engraving in 1819. Thomas Jefferson kept the rough draft
of the Declaration of Independence “scored and scratched like a schoolboy’s
exercise” at his home, Monticello, for his entire life. This shows how important this document
should be for everyone who calls America home. What better way is there for all Americans to enjoy this
document than to have it mass produced so that everyone can have a copy
available to them! It is a reminder of what has been, and continues to be
important enough to fight for.
John Binns was one of the first to realize, in June of 1816, the
potential market for 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" (as
described in his solicitation for subscribers).
I have acquired a similar production to the engraving you have in your post and would like to pursue further knowledge about it. One major difference between mine and yours is at bottom center of mine there is the addition of the famous picture of Declarations signing and the 13th colony set below, from that point up it is nearly identical as far as I can tell. If you could help with some info iwould be greatly appreciative. Please contact me at david-berglund@live.com
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