In February 2026, a volunteer at The National Archives in Kew, west London, opened a volume of 18th-century Royal Navy correspondence and felt butterflies in his stomach. Michael Scurr had just unfolded a document whose opening words he recognised: “In Congress, July 4, 1776. A declaration by the representatives of the United States of America …” It was a “vanishingly rare” early printing of the US Declaration of Independence – the only known example outside America.
The document is one of just 11 surviving copies of the “Exeter printing”, produced in Exeter, New Hampshire, between 16 and 19 July 1776. These broadsides were rushed out to spread news of the declaration, which had been signed in Philadelphia on 4 July, to the colonies. The copy found in the UK was seized by the Royal Navy on Christmas Eve 1776, when the HMS Raisonable captured an American privateer ship, the Dalton, off the coast of Portugal after a seven-hour pursuit. The ship’s papers were brought to Britain, and the declaration was listed without distinction as “another paper” by Captain Thomas Fitzherbert. It remained hidden in state archives for more than two centuries.
“A rare copy of the US Declaration of Independence found in UK archives, explaining its history and significance.”
The Declaration of Independence is the founding document of the United States, asserting the thirteen American colonies’ separation from British rule. It was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Continental Congress on 4 July 1776. The Exeter printing is one of the earliest reproductions, made as the news travelled north. Because it was intended for rapid distribution, few copies were preserved. According to Dr Graham Moore, a records specialist at The National Archives, this copy is “one of the rarest forms of the Declaration we know about” and is the only one known to have been taken by military action.
For UK readers, this discovery matters because it offers a tangible link to a pivotal moment in both American and British history. It shows how the news of American independence reached British hands within months, and how the document was treated as mere naval correspondence at the time. The copy will go on display in the archives’ Revolution 250 exhibition, which opened last month, allowing the public to see a piece of history that has been in Britain for nearly 250 years. Saul Nassé, chief executive of The National Archives, called it “an extraordinary discovery” and “a vanishingly rare surviving copy of the Declaration of Independence, found not in America, but here in the UK.”
The discovery also highlights the role of volunteers in archives. Scurr, who had to keep the find secret from fellow volunteers and even friends and family, described the moment as “a really thrilling moment”. His find underscores how many historical treasures remain undiscovered in archives, waiting for someone to recognise their significance.
Q: How many copies of the Declaration of Independence exist? There is no exact count of all copies, but this particular Exeter printing is one of only 11 surviving copies. The original signed parchment is held in the National Archives in Washington, DC, but early printed versions like this are extremely rare.
Q: Why was this copy in the UK? The copy was seized by the Royal Navy in December 1776 when it captured an American privateer ship, the Dalton, off the coast of Portugal. The ship’s papers, including the declaration, were brought to Britain and stored with naval records.
Q: Can the public see this document? Yes. Following restoration, the document is now on display at The National Archives in Kew as part of the “Revolution 250” exhibition, which explores the path to American independence.
What happens next? The document will remain on exhibit at The National Archives, potentially for months or longer. Its discovery may prompt further searches of naval records for other historical treasures. The 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026 adds extra significance, and the document’s story – from printer’s shop to sea capture to archive – offers a fresh perspective on a well-known event.