DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE FIRST RUN COPY

The question is, first run copy from whom? Can you tell us if there is any other information about the publisher listed? A 50 year old print of the Declaration is not likely a very valuable item, as it is one of the most reproduced of all US historical documents (although it does seem to be a very nice copy, none the less). If it was produced by a quality printer, that would certainly beef up its desirability, and should it prove significantly older than 50 years, that would be of great help, as well. As an original first-run copy, though, I am sorry to say, that this does not seem to be the case. Your ink looks to be a metallic gold, and it appears to be on a fairly crisp, new onionskin type of paper. Also, a first run original would not show the signatures as printers of the 18th C. had no way to mechanically or photo-mechanically reproduce such things- and you can bet that the signers, important men, all, were not going to sit around and sign all 500 copies of the edition! A true, original first-run copy can be seen here in the tale of a man who did find a true, original first-run print. As you can see, your print does not really look the same: http://www.snopes.com/luck/declare.asp Remember, the copy shown was purchased in 2000 by the late television producer, Norman Lear, for just under $8¼ million, so, as unlikely as it seems, it's always best to check if you are not certain. Of the 500 copies printed, there are still only 25 that have been uncovered. That leaves some very real chance for one of those old copies out there to actually be the real thing. Not likely, of course, but you never know. As they like to say in the world of Quantum Physics, "If it happened once, then there is always a possibility it can happen again!"