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c. 1825 DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE Broadside Printed On Silk Not Recorded

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:6,500.00 USD Estimated At:9,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
c. 1825 DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE Broadside Printed On Silk Not Recorded
Autographs
Declaration of Independence on Silk Type Not Recorded In “Threads Of History”
(DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE) c. 1825 Broadside Printed Upon White Silk: “IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776. - THE - Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of AMERICA. - Published by Thomas Henri Gleason, at T, M, Skinner’s Printing Office, Auburn, N. Y.”, Choice Very Fine.
This previously unreported Silk Printing of the Declaration of Independence measures 21.5” x 17.25” and includes its complete printed text. It is presented in an unusual paragraph form, with the printed names of the historic Declaration Signers at bottom. It has strong sharply printed black text upon a clean cream-color Silk. The boldly styled and printed title and header is in different font styles and has decorative designs, being partially in script form. The printed signatures of the Signers of the Declaration appear at the bottom, “John Hancock” being substantially larger than the rest, and it is offset toward the top right, above all of the other Signers. A variety of period typefaces have been used to highlight portions of the text. The printer’s information appears in the bottom margin. There is no date of manufacture, yet is likely created to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which took place in 1826.

This exceedingly rare specimen is Not Listed in the major reference “Threads of History,” published by the Smithsonian Institution. Nor have any other examples appeared in “American Book Prices Current” going back over twenty years, though we have located just two other examples. Both the left and right side outer margin edges are lightly frayed with a few trivial outer edge splits to original to this silk. There are previous archival tabs on the blank reverse which stretch it over a piece of white foam board for display. It is in superior quality for its age and silk material with only a few faint folds and light creases. This silk is whole and solid having no major tears, thins or rips. Other than for some darker extreme outer edge tone, this Declaration of Independence has nice overall eye appeal.

It is far more rare than it’s other contemporaries, such as the (1818) “Tyler” Broadside; (1819) “Woodruff” Broadside; (1819) “Binns” Broadside; (c. 1820-25) “Huntington” Broadside; (1823) “Stone” Broadside; and even the popular (1848) Peter Force Broadside. This specimen is printed on delicate silk, not paper or vellum.

The use of different fonts and type styles makes it particularly attractive in design. Knowing that this example is one of now only Three Known, and ranks as the very finest in quality as one is heavily pasted down, the other is stained with some splits. This historic Declaration of Independence is missing in virtually every collection.
Thomas Henri Gleason is listed with “The Quebec Directory for 1822: Containing an Alphabetical List of the Merchants, Traders and House Keepers &c., Within the City.” In 1823 Gleasom published, “Stenographic synopsis, or, - An abstract of the most approved system of short-hand : containing the whole theory of this important art ... qualify a person for taking the substance of any discourse delivered in public.” Thought to have been written in Quebec.

T. M. Skinner, Printer, Auburn, N. Y., is listed as publishing a periodical from c. 1818 to 1821. He printed, The Farmer's calendar, or, Utica almanack for the year of our Lord 1819 ...” Auburn (N.Y.) : Published and sold by T.M. Skinner at the Auburn Gazette office and bookstore, (1818), listed in: “Early American imprints.” Second series; no. 51769. He also printed the book titled, “Proceedings of the Anti-masonic Republican Convention of the County of Cayuga : held at Auburn, January 1, 1830, with their address to the farmers and mechanics of the County.” Plus other period items.