[Americana] Binns, John. Declaration of Independence

(Philadelphia): Printed by James Porter, 1819. Engraved broadside, by George Murray, C.H. Parker, J.B. Longacre, after Johns Binns, George Bridport, Thomas Sully, Gilbert Stuart, Bass Otis, and John Singleton Copley. 35 1/4 x 25 1/2 in. (895 x 648 mm). Mounted to board; sheet toned; wear and along edges. In a fine and large carved contemporary frame, 43 1/4 x 34 in. (1,099 x 864 mm). Bidwell 5

A scarce example of John Binns's highly decorative printing of the Declaration of Independence, one of the earliest and most faithful facsimiles of America's founding document.

Following the War of 1812, a sense of national unity and political harmony swept the country. Binns, an Irish-born Philadelphia journalist and publisher of the Republican Philadelphia newspaper The Democratic Review, saw in this moment a chance to capitalize on this patriotic sentiment, and in 1816 began taking subscriptions for a decorative facsimile print of the Declaration of Independence. Although he declared that he would have the print ready in only a year, the magnitude of the undertaking delayed its completion until 1819. By that time, another printer, Benjamin Owen Tyler, had already published his own, cheaper, and less elaborate facsimile print in 1818. Despite this, Binns's print has since been justly regarded as the best decorative reproduction of the Declaration, and one that appropriately symbolizes a period of an emerging American nationalism.

This lot is located in Philadelphia.

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Darren Winston

SVP, Head of Department, Books and Manuscripts, Philadelphia

Darren Winston, Senior Vice President at Freeman’s, has served as Head of Department for Books & Manuscripts, Philadelphia, since 2018. He has been a trustee of the Rosenbach Museum and Library since 2022, is a member of The Manuscript Society, The Bibliographical Society of America, and Philadelphia’s Philobiblon Club.

Raised in northern New Jersey, Darren moved to New York City in 1988 and began his career there as a bookseller in 1995. He spent the next 18 years selling to private clients and at East Coast book fairs. In 2003 he moved with his young family to Sharon, Connecticut where, in 2009, he opened his own bookshop. Darren Winston, Bookseller offered rare and vintage books, prints, fine art, and more, and hosted over 50 book signings and art shows. He was a trustee and, later, Board President, of the Sharon Historical Society, and for six years a trustee of Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, Connecticut.

Darren has hosted the radio program "Darren Winston's Book Report" for NPR-affiliate WHDD since 2009, appeared in the 2014 book-themed documentary The Paper Trail, and in 2024 he joined Antiques Roadshow as a books and manuscripts appraiser. From 1999 to 2005, Darren was the buyer and consultant to the Fine and Rare Books Department at Asprey, the British luxury goods company, at its New York headquarters. While there he spearheaded various in-store events including readings by Salman Rushdie and Dominick Dunne.

In 1993, Darren was hired as a Creative Consultant to Columbia Records, where he assisted in the repackaging of their 12-record Aerosmith back catalogue. He later sold his extensive collection of Aerosmith memorabilia, which he began amassing at the age of 14, directly to the band.

Darren now lives on the Main Line, outside Philadelphia, with his wife, two children, and dog. The family travels frequently to his wife's native England and Scotland. When not bookselling, he plays guitar in Pumped, an Aerosmith tribute band. Darren also appears on the top-rated PBS television program Antiques Roadshow.

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[Americana] Binns, John. Declaration of Independence

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