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William J. Stone, First “Exact” Facsimile of the Declaration Current Working Census, with Updates by Seth Kaller |
Only examples from the original first edition run of 200 (actually 201) printed on vellum, as ordered by Congress, are listed here. The census was initially compiled and published by William R. Coleman, in Manuscripts, Spring 1991: “Counting the Stones: A Census of the Stone Facsimiles of the Declaration of Independence.” Coleman's extensive research found thirty-one copies. We have updated the list based on searches of institutional holdings, the addition of newly discovered copies, and auction and dealer records. Several copies that Coleman counted as private have since been gifted and are now on the institutional list.
1 California. Richard Nixon Presidential Library (Inscribed to Joshua Prideaux)
2 California. Ronald Reagan Presidential Library (Donated by Snyders)
3 Connecticut. New Haven Historical Society (Probably original sent to CT)
4 Indiana. Indiana University, Lilly Library
5 Kentucky. Jefferson County Court House, Kentucky (Donated by Mulloy family)
6 Maine. Bangor Museum and Center for History (Donated in 1914)
7 Maryland. Maryland Historical Society (Charles Carroll of Carrollton)
8 Massachusetts. Boston Public Library
9 Massachusetts. Harvard University, Houghton Library
10 Massachusetts. John F. Kennedy Presidential Library (Given to JFK in 1961)
11 Massachusetts. Massachusetts Historical Society, John Adams Papers (copy 1)
12 Massachusetts. Massachusetts Historical Society, John Adams Papers (copy 2)
13 Michigan. Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village (ex-Family G. Walton)
14 New Hampshire. New Hampshire State Archives (Discovered in tube in ceiling)
15 New Hampshire. New Hampshire State Library
16 New York. Gilder Lehrman Collection on deposit at New-York Historical Society
17 Rhode Island. Rhode Island State Archives (copy 1, with transmittal of 4 to RI)
18 Rhode Island. Rhode Island State Archives (copy 2)
19 Tennessee. Tennessee State Archives
20 Virginia. Colonial Williamsburg (Donated by Epstein)
21 Virginia. University of Virginia, Albert H. Small Collection (Lafayette’s copy)
22 Virginia. Virginia State Library Archives
23 Washington, D.C. Library of Congress (copy 1)
24 Washington, D.C. Library of Congress (copy 2)
25 Washington, D.C. Smithsonian Institution (201st copy, donated by Stone family)
26 Washington, D.C. U.S. Supreme Court (Re-discovered in 2007)
27 Washington, D.C. The White House (Donated by William R. Coleman)
David M. Rubenstein
28-34 Seven copies have been acquired by David M. Rubenstein, and are on loan to various museums, libraries and historic sites. These are still privately owned, but are all expected to be donated. We count them as institutional.
Forthcoming Sale
35 Freeman’s, Philadelphia, July 1, 2021 auction. One of two originally presented to Charles Carroll of Carrollton. The inscriptions in the lower left corner tells the story of Carroll’s disposition of both of the copies he was given: "Presented to his friend John/Mac Tavish Esquire by/the only Surviving Signer/of this important State Paper,/exactly half a century/after having affixed his/name to the Original Document./(Signed) Ch. Carroll of Carrollton/Doughoregan Manor/1826, August Second." The signer had inscribed that on his other copy (listed as #7 above) Around the time he gifted that to the Historic Society, John MacTavish copied the inscription (including Carroll’s signature) here, and then added: "The Original presented/to the Hist: Soc: of Md/November 30/[18]44./JMc T."
Private Collections
36-48 We can locate at least eight copies, but are also certain of the existence of several others. We identify them here by their last public sale or notice. We would particularly welcome additional information on the ones that are currently unlocated!
36 2009/04/23, Historical Collectibles Auction, lot 38. sk#21983. Private Collection, New York.
37 2004/06/09, Christie’s, lot 369. sk#21310. Inscribed by John Quincy Adams, but the recipient’s name is yet to be deciphered. Private Collection, New York.
38 2002/12/13, Sotheby’s, lot 193. (Found after Coleman 1991). Private Collection, Virginia.
39 2002/05/24, Christie’s, lot 44 sk#25872. Private Collection, New York.
40 2003/12/18, Christie’s, lot 247. sk#10387. Current location?
41 2001/06/05, Sotheby’s, lot 57, ex-Lippincott Family. This copy, reported to have originally belonged to signer Richard Stockton’s family, was taken to Switzerland after the Civil War, but subsequently returned to America. Current location?
42 1998/05/29, Christie’s, lot 112. Current location?
43 1995/12/13, Sotheby’s, lot 97. sk#08139. Private sale via Heritage Rare Books, 2001. Private Collection, Connecticut.
44 1994/03/17, Phillips, lot 324. sk#23864. Descended in family of Roger Sherman. Private Collection, Connecticut.
45 1992/05/09, Superior, lot 358. sk#25873. Formerly on exhibit at the Cato Institute, Washington, D.C. Private Collection.
46 1988/10/08, Riba Auctions, lot 290, not illustrated. Current location. (California?)
47 1983/01/26, Sotheby’s, lot 10. Current location?
48 1976/05/18, Sotheby’s, lot 318. Current location?
Nb: One of the copies listed above without a current location is in California, and another is in New York.
Why we don’t list an exact number
Older auction and dealer catalogs often did not include illustrations, and many are still not indexed. We’ve been wary of counting the same document twice.
Including new discoveries, our count went as high as 52, but removing entries that have proven to be duplicative or erroneous, the number went down.
If you can help us locate any additional examples, or confirm the location of any (either for publication or confidentially, just to help us with the count and tracking), please contact me at info@sethkaller.com.
Seth Kaller
Last updated June 6, 2021
For the history of the Stone printing, click here
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