A Fine Collection of American Literature and History

Early English Magazine Printing of the Declaration of Independence

London: Printed at St. John's Gate, for D. Henry, and sold by F. Newbery, (1776). January-December issues. Comprising general title-page, preface, 12 monthly issues, plus Supplement for the year, and Index. (iv), 608, (16) pp. Featuring an early full English printing of the Declaration of Independence, within the August issue, on pp. 361-362, signed in type by John Hancock and Charles Thompson (sic), with the running headline "Declaration of American Independency." Illustrated with 2 (of 14) engraved plates (at p. 351 and p. 540). Contemporary quarter speckled tan calf over marbled paper-covered boards, stamped in gilt, boards and extremities worn and rubbed, spine ends worn; speckled red edges. Sabin 26954

A scarce early English printing of the Declaration of Independence, likely the first--or among the first--appearance in a British magazine. News of America's declared independency did not reach British shores until August 10, and the first printing of the momentous document in Britain did not appear until the August 16 issue of the The London Chronicle newspaper. It next appeared in two British newspapers over the following few days, first in the The St. James's Chronicle and then in The Daily Advertiser. This printing in the Gentleman's Magazine appeared at the end of August. "The monthly magazines picked it up as quickly as they could. It should be explained that these magazines were published at the very end of the month which was named on the cover. Thus it was that The Gentleman's Magazine printed the Declaration in its August issue, without comment, except that on a later page reference was made to the document to be found on an earlier page: 'Whether these grievances were real or imaginary, or whether they did or did not deserve a parliamentary inquiry, we will not presume to decide.'" (Howard H. Peckham, Independence: The View From Britain, p. 391).

This magazine, while printing the Declaration in full, features multiple segments that are censured to remove the word tyranny, or that refer to the King as a tyrant, "The history of the present ____ ____ of Great Britain, is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations; all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute t_____ over these states." (p. 361). This volume also contains a wealth of other information on the American conflict, including reports of meetings of the American Congress, information on American privateers, events in Boston, the American attack on Quebec, various British reponses to the Declaration, etc.

We have seen other copies of this same issue, seemingly identical, except for the running headline on p. 362 stating "Independency of American Colonies declared by the Congress," instead of "Declaration of American Independency" as in our copy.