An extremely rare copy of the Declaration of Independence of the United States has been found in the National Archives of Britain in Kew, causing excitement among historians.
The document was discovered by chance by a volunteer sorting through Royal Navy archives, without initially knowing its significance.
According to researchers, it is one of only 11 copies printed in New Hampshire in July 1776, with the aim of quickly spreading the news of American independence.
This particular copy was seized by the Royal Navy during the war, when British ships spotted and captured an American vessel off the coast of Portugal.
Since then, it has remained in the archives without its historical value being recognized.
Officials at the National Archives called the find “an extraordinary discovery,” noting that its significance lies in both its rarity and the fact that it was found in Britain.
After conservation and restoration work, the document will be on public display as part of the “Revolution 250” exhibition, offering a rare glimpse into a crucial part of American history.
