How much is a historic copy of the Declaration of Independence worth?
D. All of the Above.
The value of a historic copy of the Declaration of Independence fluctuates based on its age, rarity, and the current condition. The highest value that a historic copy of the Declaration of Independence has ever sold for $8.14 million for a Dunlap broadside preserved in excellent condition through the Sotherby’s auction house. The Dunlap broadsides were the first official printing of the Declaration of Independence printed the night of July 4, 1776 by John Dunlap for distribution the next day throughout the 13 colonies. The Dunlap broadsides actually predate signed parchment on display at the National Archives. A copy of the second official printing of the Declaration of Independence commissioned by the copy of the second Declaration of Independence sold for $223,000 through the Sotherby’s. This printing was precipitated by the recent victories in New Jersey by the Continental Army. A more recent printing of the Declaration of Independence dated from 1848 was commissioned by Congress as part of a compilation titled the American Archives. and recently sold from Sothby’s for $17,500.
When was the Declaration of Independence signed?
D. August 2, 1776
The majority of the delegates of the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence on August 2, 1776 (Harrison, 2012). The delay allowed two weeks for the Declaration of Independence to be “fairly engrossed on parchment” which means to create an official copy in large, legible script on parchment (Sneff, 2016).
Where is the oldest copy of the Declaration of Independence stored?
A. Library of Congress
The oldest copy of the Declaration of Independence is working document, which Thomas Jefferson presented to the Second Continental Congress for revision and is housed inside the Library of Congress in a stainless steel container protected by inert argon gas. This document includes the 16 changes by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, 31 changes made by the committee of five designated to draft a document declaring the 13 colonies independent, and the 39 changes made by the Second Continental Congress.