Rare copy of Declaration of Independence found by UK National Archives in papers of captured US ship

Rare copy of Declaration of Independence found by UK National Archives in papers of captured US ship 1 of 5 | The National Archives in London discovered a rare 1776 printing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. (AP Video shot by Kwiyeon Ha) 2 of 5 | This image made from video shows a newly discovered copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, printed in July 1776 in Exeter, is displayed at The National Archives in London, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Kwiyeon Ha) 3 of 5 | This image made from video shows a newly discovered copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, printed in July 1776 in Exeter, is displayed at The National Archives in London, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Kwiyeon Ha) 4 of 5 | This image made from video shows a newly discovered copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, printed in July 1776 in Exeter, is displayed at The National Archives in London, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Kwiyeon Ha) 5 of 5 | This image made from video shows a newly discovered copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, printed in July 1776 in Exeter, is displayed at The National Archives in London, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Kwiyeon Ha) 1 of 5 The National Archives in London discovered a rare 1776 printing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence. (AP Video shot by Kwiyeon Ha) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 5 | This image made from video shows a newly discovered copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, printed in July 1776 in Exeter, is displayed at The National Archives in London, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Kwiyeon Ha) 2 of 5 This image made from video shows a newly discovered copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, printed in July 1776 in Exeter, is displayed at The National Archives in London, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Kwiyeon Ha) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 3 of 5 | This image made from video shows a newly discovered copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, printed in July 1776 in Exeter, is displayed at The National Archives in London, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Kwiyeon Ha) 3 of 5 This image made from video shows a newly discovered copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, printed in July 1776 in Exeter, is displayed at The National Archives in London, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Kwiyeon Ha) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 4 of 5 | This image made from video shows a newly discovered copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, printed in July 1776 in Exeter, is displayed at The National Archives in London, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Kwiyeon Ha) 4 of 5 This image made from video shows a newly discovered copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, printed in July 1776 in Exeter, is displayed at The National Archives in London, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Kwiyeon Ha) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 5 of 5 | This image made from video shows a newly discovered copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, printed in July 1776 in Exeter, is displayed at The National Archives in London, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Kwiyeon Ha) 5 of 5 This image made from video shows a newly discovered copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, printed in July 1776 in Exeter, is displayed at The National Archives in London, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Kwiyeon Ha) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] London (AP) — Michael Scurr has been volunteering at Britain’s National Archives for the last 11 years, spending his Thursday mornings painstakingly cataloging documents for the benefit of future researchers.Then one day last May the retired insurance executive made a discovery of his own while sifting through the letters of an 18th century Royal Navy captain.There, attached to a report on the capture of the American privateer Dalton on Christmas Eve 1776, was an enclosure identified only as “another paper.” Carefully unfolding the document, Scurr stopped when he saw the word “Declaration” printed across the top.“I thought, oh, right, OK, this is definitely a Declaration of Independence,’' he told The Associated Press. “How exciting is this?’’ The document spreads the news of independenceResearchers at The National Archives have since identified the document as a rare early copy of America’s founding document, printed just days after the original was signed on July 4, 1776, to spread the news that 13 rebellious North American colonies had severed ties with Britain.It is one of just 11 original copies of the so-called Exeter printing of the declaration that are known to exist, and the only one identified outside the United States, The National Archives said on Thursday as it unveiled the find ahead of this weekend’s 250th anniversary of American independence. This version was printed in Exeter, New Hampshire, July 16 to 19, 1776.