Declaration of Independence - In Congress, July 4th, 1776 Illustrated Broadside
New York: Phelps & Ensign, 1841–1843 - Frame: 35 x 26 ½ inches; sight: 30 x 21 ½ inches 
 
A monumental and richly engraved broadside of the Declaration of Independence, issued by Phelps & Ensign and based on William Woodruff’s influential 1819 plate. This later state incorporates notable refinements, including the signers’ names rendered in facsimile signatures and a newly engraved portrait of George Washington at the upper center, after Stephen Gimber. The composition is further enhanced with portraits of the first three presidents and a series of vignettes representing the original thirteen states, creating an elaborate visual tribute to the founding of the Republic.
 
An engraved dedication above the image reads: “To the People of the United States this Engraving of the Declaration of Independence is most respectfully inscribed by their fellow citizen - Wm Woodruff.” A striking and historically resonant presentation of the nation’s founding document, combining patriotic iconography with mid-nineteenth-century engraving at its most ambitious.
 
Condition: Very fine, professional restoration to a tear at the upper margin with minor edge wear; presenting exceptionally well.