A volunteer at the National Archives in London has uncovered a rare copy of the Declaration of Independence, printed in Exeter, New Hampshire, 250 years ago. This significant discovery was made by Michael Scurr, who was examining 18th-century naval correspondence when he stumbled upon this historic document.

Scurr, a retiree contributing his time to catalog records at the archives, described the moment as an exhilarating find. He had come across a printed copy of the Declaration, dating back to mid-July 1776, amidst a collection of documents. The Exeter broadsides, as these copies are known, are named after the town in New Hampshire where they were originally printed.

Originally, only around 10 of these broadsides were believed to have survived. The first renditions of the Declaration were crafted by John Dunlap in Philadelphia to inform American colonies of their representatives’ decision to break away from British rule. Subsequent copies, including those from Exeter, followed as the news spread.

Today, only 26 of the original 200 Dunlap broadsides are known to exist. Even fewer copies printed in Exeter have been found. In January, one Exeter broadside fetched over $5.6 million at auction, highlighting their rarity and value.

The National Archives in London already houses multiple copies of the Declaration of Independence, one of which is presently part of an exhibition celebrating American independence.