1813 Printing of the Declaration of Independence & Draft Taken From George Wythe Estate, Weekly Register No. 18, Vol. IV

A 14pp publication of The Weekly Register (issue number 18, volume 4) dated Saturday July 3, 1813 from Baltimore, MD which features a special printing of the Declaration of Independence, along with a rare draft of the document originally belonging to the estate of founding father George Wythe. Printed the day before the 37th anniversary of America's independence, the two versions are shown in side by side columns so as to better display the changes made to the final draft. Also included in the publication are numerous updates and reports from the War of 1812, which had since spread to Canada. Pages exhibit areas of expected soiling and staining, with minor markings to front page and creasing throughout. Very good condition- a fascinating publication overall. 6" x 9.75".

An introductory paragraph to the Declaration and its special draft version found on front page reads in full:
"The time fitting the purpose, we embrace this occasion to present our readers with the Declaration of Independence, placing by its side the original draft of Mr. Jefferson, about which much curiosity and speculation has existed. The paper from which we have our copy, was found among the literary reliques [sic] of the late venerable George Wythe, of Virginia, in the hand writing of Mr. J and delivered to the editor of the Richmond Enquirer by the executor of Mr. Wythe's estate, major Duval. The passages stricken out of the original, by the committee, are inserted in italics."

The Weekly Register was a national magazine published in Baltimore, Maryland by Hezekiah Niles from 1811 to 1848. The most widely circulated magazine of its time, the Register was the nation's first weekly newsmagazine which exerted a powerful influence on early national discourse. Indeed, Niles would become one of Baltimore's most prominent journalists, covering not only politics, but economics, science, technology, art, and literature.

George Wythe (1726-1806) was an American academic, scholar and judge who would later become a Founding Father of the United States. The first of the seven signatories of the Declaration of Independence from Virginia, Wythe served as one of Virginia's representatives to the Continental Congress and the Philadelphia Convention, as well as on a committee that established the convention's rules and procedures. He left the convention before signing the U.S. Constitution to tend to his dying wife, but was elected to the Virginia Ratifying Convention and helped ensure that his home state ratified the Constitution. In addition, Wythe also taught and was a mentor to other notable Americans such as Thomas Jefferson, John Marshall, and Henry Clay, among others.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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