American Pride and Independence Writ Large

Specialist Peter Klarnet tells the stories behind two precious pieces of Americana — a proof copy of the Declaration of Independence, and the first dated printing of The Star-Spangled Banner in private hands. ‘If the Declaration of Independence gives the reasons why the colonies decided to leave the British Empire,’ says Peter Klarnet, Books and Manuscripts specialist at Christie’s in New York, ‘then The Star-Spangled Banner marks the conclusion of that struggle.’ In 1820 — roughly 40 years after the Declaration of Independence was adopted by Congress and signed in Philadelphia — Secretary of State John Quincy Adams commissioned a young printer, William J. Stone, to execute a full-scale facsimile of the Declaration, which had badly deteriorated in the intervening years. It took Stone almost three years to complete his engraving work on the copper plate. Find out more: https://ift.tt/2P2UP18