I love this essay. It seems obvious that copies would have been sent around the Colonies, but I never considered that it was done before the parchment paper we think of. Super informative, and I love the way you give real credit to the ones who did the work, not the finished glamour shot.
So I've continued thinking about this post, which I loved... and then I came across a bit of kerfuffle about the Declaration. It has to do with those self-evident truths -- specifically, that the original D of I did not end "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" with a period, but with a COMMA. If true, this would suggest that the following bits(phrased identically, but ending with commas) are ALSO among the self-evident truths. The "life, liberty, pursuit of happiness" emphasized individual liberty; the later items emphasize the common good. (I've seen the name of a Harvard professor, Danielle Allen, as a main proponent of the "the period should be a comma" theory.)
Yep! It’s a fascinating debate, and I think Danielle Allen makes some really thoughtful points. My only hesitation is that eighteenth century punctuation wasn’t nearly as standardized as ours, so I’m cautious about building too much on a single comma. I actually think her broader point about the relationship between individual rights and the common good is interesting whether that punctuation mark is a comma or a period.
When I read your earlier post re: Jefferson's draft, I noticed that TJ actually used semi-colons to separate the "self-evident truths." Talk about complications!
Almost certainly one of the Dunlap printings. They were the first official copies in circulation and were quickly forwarded to London by British officials
Very moving essay; I loved the apposition of portrait/person and speaking of the broadside as the one that did the work.
Great story. I never thought about it. I will go see this! It's about a 30 min walk for me.
I love this essay. It seems obvious that copies would have been sent around the Colonies, but I never considered that it was done before the parchment paper we think of. Super informative, and I love the way you give real credit to the ones who did the work, not the finished glamour shot.
Another great post. Thanks
Wow. As always - fascinating and educational. Thank you!
lol. i had the chance to play with one of those as a docent. man, did I end the summer with shoulders from hell!
Thought you might be interested in this, from the BBC:
https://apple.news/AeHWHkDHkTrCvxQwYZ90TpQ
A copy of the printed Declaration seized by British military action found in the National Archives at Kew.
So I've continued thinking about this post, which I loved... and then I came across a bit of kerfuffle about the Declaration. It has to do with those self-evident truths -- specifically, that the original D of I did not end "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" with a period, but with a COMMA. If true, this would suggest that the following bits(phrased identically, but ending with commas) are ALSO among the self-evident truths. The "life, liberty, pursuit of happiness" emphasized individual liberty; the later items emphasize the common good. (I've seen the name of a Harvard professor, Danielle Allen, as a main proponent of the "the period should be a comma" theory.)
I guess you know about this???
Yep! It’s a fascinating debate, and I think Danielle Allen makes some really thoughtful points. My only hesitation is that eighteenth century punctuation wasn’t nearly as standardized as ours, so I’m cautious about building too much on a single comma. I actually think her broader point about the relationship between individual rights and the common good is interesting whether that punctuation mark is a comma or a period.
When I read your earlier post re: Jefferson's draft, I noticed that TJ actually used semi-colons to separate the "self-evident truths." Talk about complications!
Thanks for the reliably fresh reads here!
One is touring Maine this summer, going to see it at least once!
Which version was sent to King George, if in fact there was even one sent to him?
Almost certainly one of the Dunlap printings. They were the first official copies in circulation and were quickly forwarded to London by British officials