Discovered in Scotland, Offered in Philadelphia: Freeman's to Sell Signer Charles Carroll's Copy William J. Stone's Printing of The Declaration of Independence

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Freeman’s is pleased to announce the sale of a signer’s rediscovered copy of William J. Stone’s 1823 printing of the Declaration of Independence. First presented to Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737-1832), the last surviving signer of the original document, and later inscribed by his grandson-in-law John MacTavish (1787-1852), this rare document is the last of the six signers’ copies known to still be in private hands. Remarkably, it was found in Scotland by Freeman’s sister auction house, Lyon & Turnbull, and Freeman’s will present this historically significant document in a single-lot auction on July 1, 2021, at an estimate of $500,000-800,000.

Lot 1, [Stone, William J.] In Congress, July 4, 1776. The Unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America. Estimate $500,000-$800,000

Commissioned by then-Secretary of State John Quincy Adams in 1820, Stone’s copperplate engraving on vellum is considered the most accurate representation of the original 1776 document. This specific copy is one of two presented to Founding Father Charles Carroll of Carrollton in 1824 (the other is in the collection of the Maryland Center for History and Culture). It then passed to Carroll’s granddaughter and executrix Emily Caton and her husband John MacTavish, and subsequently descended in a Scottish family to the present owner. Prior to its discovery in an ancestral Scottish home by Cathy Marsden, Specialist in Rare Books, Manuscripts & Maps at Lyon & Turnbull in Edinburgh, the document had been unaccounted for for 177 years. “It was a wonderful surprise to find the Stone facsimile unknowingly hidden in the family home,” says Marsden. “What at first glance appeared to be an unassuming old document nestled within a pile of papers, has turned out to be a fascinating and important piece of American history.”

According to Seth Kaller’s current census of the Stone facsimiles, of the original 201 copies printed, approximately 52 survive. Says Darren Winston, head of Freeman’s Books and Manuscripts department, “I marvel that this amazing document probably left America in the mid-19^th century on a sailing ship bound for the British Isles, then likely continued by horse-drawn coach or rail—or both—to Scotland, and the whole journey probably took six weeks. 177-odd years later, it was rediscovered and shipped back across the Atlantic, this time by automobile and airplane, and it took two days. That’s not just a long time between trips; that’s practically the entire history of transportation! Now, not only has it returned ‘home,’ but it is about to be offered for sale in the same city where its original owner put quill to paper on August 2, 1776, and signed his name in support of American independence.”

Lot 1, [Stone, William J.] In Congress, July 4, 1776. The Unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America. Estimate $500,000-$800,000

Founded in 1805 mere blocks from Independence Hall, Freeman’s is America’s oldest auction house, and throughout its storied history has had the privilege of stewarding the sale of numerous historically significant items, including the 1969 sale of John Dunlap’s 1776 broadside of the Declaration of Independence, which sold for an unprecedented $404,000 ($2.97 million in today’s dollars). Freeman’s upcoming July 1 sale continues this long-standing tradition, offering collectors the opportunity to own a piece of previously-unaccounted-for American history, and underscoring Freeman’s pride of place as Philadelphia’s international auction house.

ABOUT FREEMAN’S

Since 1805, Freeman’s has been part of the fabric of Philadelphia, helping generations of clients in the buying and selling of fine and decorative arts, jewelry, design, and more. We host many auctions throughout the year, including sales of single owner collections. Freeman’s, Philadelphia’s auction house. Sharing the world of art, design, and jewelry with you, wherever you are.

ABOUT LYON & TURNBULL

Operating since 1826, Lyon & Turnbull are one of the United Kingdom’s premier fine art and antiques auctioneers.  The company’s galleries in London and Glasgow complement their historic Georgian headquarters and main saleroom in Edinburgh. Hosting nearly 40 specialist auctions per year across the UK, and live online, there is always something to see at Lyon & Turnbull: from jewellery and watches to fine furniture; traditional British and European art to Modern & Contemporary stars; European decorative arts and design to fine Asian art from China and Japan. www.lyonandturnbull.com

AN INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE

Freeman's and Lyon & Turnbull formed a strategic marketing alliance in 2000. United by a shared commitment to customer service and special focus on single-owner collections, the two companies have successfully staged a wide range of joint international projects over the last two decades including specialist auctions in Hong Kong and London as well as exhibitions and events on both sides of the Atlantic.