Arabic version: نسخة فريدة من إعلان الاستقلال تُكتشف في أرشيفات المملكة المتحدة
According to BBC News,
A rare surviving copy of the Declaration of Independence has been found at The National Archives in Kew, marking it as the only known example outside the US. The document was uncovered by volunteer Michael Scurr in February while he was cataloguing papers from Royal Navy captains from the American Revolutionary War. It is one of 11 copies printed in Exeter, New Hampshire in July 1776, intended to disseminate news of American independence across the colonies before being seized by British forces.
Scurr expressed his excitement upon discovering the document, recalling the moment he realized its significance. He promptly called over his supervisor to share the extraordinary find. Following restoration efforts, the copy is set to be displayed in the archives’ exhibition on the path to American independence, which opened last month.
Saul Nassé, chief executive of The National Archives, commended the discovery, describing it as an extraordinary find. The document was captured by the Royal Navy on Christmas Eve 1776 when the HMS Raisonable intercepted an American ship, the Dalton, off the coast of Portugal. Dr. Graham Moore from The National Archives noted that this copy is one of the rarest forms of the Declaration, emphasizing that it was not meant to be preserved due to its quick distribution.
The captured ship brought the Declaration back to Britain, where it was among the papers seized by the Royal Navy. Initially listed without distinction, it remained hidden in the state’s archives for centuries. Moore highlighted that this is the only known copy of the Declaration taken by military action, adding to its historical significance.
The recently discovered copy has undergone conservation to stabilize its paper and repair a slight tear, ensuring it is safe for handling and future display. It will be featured in the Revolution 250: America’s Independence Story exhibition at The National Archives, which already holds three original official copies of the Declaration printed by John Dunlap in Philadelphia on July 4, 1776.
