The first printed copies of the Declaration of Independence produced by John Dunlap were called Dunlap broadsides.
John Dunlap, a Philadelphia printer, began printing the declaration soon after Congress adopted it. A broadside is a large sheet printed on one side, making it suitable for public display or reading aloud rather than for ordinary bookbinding.
Historians believe roughly 200 copies were ordered, although the exact original number is debated. Copies were sent to colonial governments and military leaders, including George Washington, so the declaration could be announced across the colonies.
The Dunlap broadsides are distinct from the later engrossed parchment copy signed by delegates. They also differ from the 1823 facsimile known as the Stone engraving. Because the first broadsides were distributed widely and many were lost, surviving examples are rare and highly valued by libraries and museums.