John Dunlap initially printed 200 copies of the Declaration of Independence.
Dunlap, a Philadelphia printer, produced the copies as broadsides shortly after Congress adopted the declaration in July 1776. These single-sheet printed editions allowed the news to circulate quickly through the colonies and to reach military leaders and government officials.
The surviving examples are known as Dunlap broadsides. Historians believe about two dozen original copies survive today, although the exact number can vary as researchers identify or authenticate examples. Their rarity makes them among the most valuable documents connected with American independence.
The 200 copies were not the handwritten engrossed parchment signed by delegates. They were printed versions intended for distribution and public reading. The distinction matters because the engrossed copy was prepared later, while the broadsides helped spread the declaration’s words immediately after adoption.