Auction Closing: March 30, 2024 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time
Lot Number: 23
Estimate Range: $5,000 - $6,000
c. 1820 Eleazar Huntington Engraved “Declaration of Independence” Historic Broadside (Hartford, Connecticut)

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(DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE). c. 1820 "Engraved by E. Huntington", (Hartford, Connecticut), the “Huntington” Declaration of Independence.

Circa 1820, original Broadside Printing Engraved Copy of the “Declaration of Independence” by master calligrapher Eleazar Huntington, (Hartford, Connecticut), Fine. Printed on heavy wove period paper, measuring about 18” x 22” and professionally laid down to a slightly larger thick archival paper. It has minor small losses at some fold intersections, a fine sealed 2" diagonal split at the left side margin into the text, folds with some central areas of light tone, with .25” extra margin selvage at left center. It is Signed, "Engraved by E. Huntington" in small text print along the extreme lower margin and retained the classic feel of the original Declaration while providing new styles in its presentation. All the famous “Signers” signatures are reproduced in design without embellishment. Its header boldly reads:

“IN CONGRESS July 4th, 1776.

The Unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of AMERICA.”

A historic American Broadside Document that is whole and complete, well printed and is far superior than most seen. It is quite even in its overall appearance and retains better eye appeal for such an early Declaration of Independence. Early American previously offered two other “Huntington” Declarations. One example was sold on our Early American History Store in May 2010 graded Very Fine for $8,250. The most recent “Huntington” was offered in our EAHA Auction of August 26, 2016 Lot 33, graded VF which sold then for $5,000. This current example is not framed, yet would present well if professionally matted and framed for display.
This rare example is known as the “Huntington” Declaration if Independence. It closely imitates the engraved Benjamin Owen Tyler Declaration of Independence (1818) in its title and design, yet omitting some of the ornamental hands in the Tyler text.

The facsimile signatures are styled after John Binns, whose engraved version of the Declaration of Independence was published in 1819 and whose facsimiles were by Tanner, Vallance, Kearny & Co. Binns’ was engraved in the office of the Secretary of State, and from the original signatures.