Full Breakdown
Rare Exeter Printing of the Declaration of Independence Unearthed in London
7/4/2026, 3:50:39 AM
The Discovery
A single-sheet broadside of the 1776 Declaration of Independence, printed in Exeter, New Hampshire between July 16-19, was identified in the United Kingdom’s National Archives in May 2026. Volunteer archivist Michael Scurr, who has been cataloguing 18th-century Royal Navy correspondence for eleven years, opened a box of papers from Captain Thomas Fitzherbert’s report on the capture of the American privateer Dalton and recognized the heading “Declaration.” The sheet, previously filed as “another paper,” is now confirmed as one of only eleven surviving copies of the Exeter printing and the sole example located outside the United States.
Historical Context
The Exeter broadsides were produced on rag-made paper by printer Robert Luis Fowle to disseminate news of independence rapidly across the colonies. Privateer Eleazer Johnson of the Dalton likely acquired a copy in November 1776 before sailing for Europe. On Christmas Eve 1776, the 64-gun HMS Raisonnable, commanded by Captain Thomas Fitzherbert, pursued the Dalton for seven hours off the coast of Portugal and seized the vessel, its crew of roughly 120 men, and its papers—including the Declaration, the ship’s privateering commission signed by John Hancock, and Continental-Congress orders. The captured documents were sent to the Admiralty, entered the Prize Papers collection, and remained hidden in the National Archives for 250 years.
Key Figures
- Michael Scurr – volunteer archivist who discovered the document.
- Saul Nassé – Chief Executive of the National Archives, who announced the find.
- Graham Moore – curator of the “Revolution 250” exhibition, responsible for conservation.
- Amanda Bevan – head of the project cataloguing Royal Navy captains’ correspondence.
- Nicholas Guyatt – Cambridge professor of North American history, providing scholarly context.
Timeline
- July 16-19 1776 – Exeter printing produced.
- Dec 24 1776 – HMS Raisonnable captures the Dalton off Portugal.
- Jan 10 1777 – Fitzherbert’s letter to the Admiralty references “another document.”
- May 2026 – Scurr identifies the Declaration in the archives.
- July 3 2026 – National Archives publicly announces the discovery ahead of the United States’ 250th anniversary.
- Summer 2026 – Document slated for display in the “Revolution 250: America’s Independence Story” exhibition.
Data & Statistics
- 11 known Exeter copies survive; 10 reside in U.S. libraries or historical societies, 1 now in the UK.
- The National Archives hold three John Dunlap-printed official copies of the Declaration.
- British forces captured ? 3,600 ships during the Revolutionary War, creating a vast “Prize Papers” record.
- The Dalton’s crew numbered about 120 men; one identified as a free Black sailor, Daniel Cottle.
Significance
The artifact links printing, privateering, naval warfare, and archival preservation, offering a concrete illustration of how revolutionary ideas traveled across the Atlantic. Its provenance—documented from the Exeter press to a captured privateer to a British state archive—provides a rare, traceable chain rarely available for other early printings. The find also underscores the continuing relevance of physical collections for uncovering primary sources that reshape historical narratives.
Official Statements & Responses
The National Archives described the sheet as “a vanishingly rare surviving copy of the Declaration of Independence, found not in America but here in the UK,” emphasizing its unique provenance. Curator Graham Moore noted that the broadside “was not meant to be preserved; it was printed quickly and distributed widely,” yet its survival offers “an unusually rich backstory.” Amanda Bevan highlighted that the document “shows a lesser-known side of the Revolutionary War—how privateers used the Declaration to inspire crews.” Professor Guyatt observed that, from a British viewpoint at the time, the paper was “simply another document seized among many others,” reminding scholars that its historical weight was not recognized in 1776.
Criticism & Scholarly Perspective
Some historians caution against overstating the find’s impact. Guyatt stresses that the Declaration’s contemporary significance to the Royal Navy was limited, and that the excitement surrounding the discovery reflects modern values rather than the document’s original importance. This view tempers celebratory narratives by situating the artifact within the broader context of wartime bureaucracy and the routine seizure of enemy papers.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I thought, oh, right, OK, this is definitely a Declaration of Independence,” — Michael Scurr, volunteer archivist
- “This is an extraordinary discovery.” — Saul Nassé, Chief Executive, The National Archives
- “It's a vanishingly rare surviving copy of the Declaration of Independence, found not in America, but here in the UK.” — Saul Nassé
- “From the British perspective, it was simply another document seized among many others,” — Nicholas Guyatt, University of Cambridge
- “They know why they’re fighting, but this puts it in a language which makes it greater than them,” — Amanda Bevan, National Archives project lead
- “Dr Graham Moore, a curator at The National Archive, said, "This is one of the rarest forms of the Declaration we know about.” — Graham Moore, curator
What’s Next
After conservation treatment to repair a minor tear and stabilize the rag-paper, the Exeter broadside will join the “Revolution 250” exhibition at Kew. The National Archives plans further research into the Prize Papers collection, anticipating additional insights into transatlantic revolutionary communications.
