declaration of independence printed on the evening of july 4, 1776, in philadelphia by printer john dunlap. it really is the key printing of american history. first printing of america's founding document. we are not quite sure how many copies were printed. perhaps upwards of 400 sheets broadside. 26 survived, and interestingly enough, two of the 20's of two of the 26 copies are here. -- you can trace its ownership back to the early 19th century owned by a man named tobias leer, who was george washington's last personal secretary. the purpose of the dunlap broadside, printed on the evening of july or it was to disseminate the news as quickly as possible throughout the 13 colonies. so copies were sent on horseback far and wide to government representatives and each colony, so the news could be read aloud and reprinted and spread by any means possible. once the news arrived in various cities in the now united states, the text of the declaration was reprinted it in various forms, and periodicals both here, and eventually in great britain. for example, this broadside was printed in salem, mass

declaration of independence printed on the evening of july 4, 1776, in philadelphia by prichard john dunlap. printing of the key american history. quite sure how many copies were printed. 400 sheetsrds of broadside. 26 or bind, and interestingly enough, two of the 20's of the 26are here -- two of copies are here. you can trace its ownership acted early 19th century owned leer, whoamed tobiasl was george washington's last known executive secretary. dunlappose of the broadside print on the evening of july or it was to disseminate the news as quickly as possible throughout the 13 colonies. so copies were sent on horseback far and wide to government representatives, and each colony , so the news could be read aloud and reprinted and spread by any means possible. once the news arrived in various states,n the now united the text of the declaration was reprinted in berries forms as separate -- was reprinted in periodicalss, and both here, and eventually in great britain. for example, this broadside was printed in salem, massachusetts after the news had arrived there later in july 1776. issuede, in