Britain's National Archives announced Friday that a rare printing of the Declaration of Independence, lost for over 250 years, has been recovered in London. Known as the Exeter Declaration, it is the only known copy of its kind to exist outside the United States.
The document was printed in Exeter, New Hampshire, just days after the Declaration was adopted on July 4, 1776. It was discovered by a volunteer researcher cataloging records from the American Revolutionary War. The find came in May, when the paper was found in a Royal Navy inventory, labeled simply as “another paper” among captured documents.
Historians believe the document went unnoticed for centuries because British officials at the time failed to grasp its significance. Only a small number of surviving Exeter copies are known—11 in total—and all were thought to be held only in the U.S. until this discovery.
Volunteer Michael Scurr made the find while reviewing records tied to the capture of the American privateer ship Dalton. “It was an amazing addition to the story of the Dalton and the many other privateers that fought the British at sea,” said Amanda Bevan, who leads the project cataloging Royal Navy correspondence from the American Revolution.
The Dalton had been targeting British vessels during the Revolutionary War before it was intercepted by a British warship off the coast of Portugal in 1776. Scurr, who has volunteered at the Archives for 11 years, came across the discovery during routine cataloging and immediately recognized its historical value. “I thought, oh, right, this is definitely a Declaration of Independence,” Scurr told The Associated Press. “How exciting is this?”
The discovery comes as the U.S. prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, marking the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. This milestone has sparked broader reflection on national unity, as explored in a recent poll on whether Americans believe the country will endure another 250 years. The find also underscores the deep historical ties between the U.S. and the UK, even as debates over federal policies—like the minimum wage or homeownership—continue to shape American life.
The Exeter Declaration will likely be studied by historians eager to understand how early copies of the founding document circulated during the Revolution. Its recovery adds a fresh chapter to the story of American independence, just as the nation gears up for its semiquincentennial celebrations.
