The Philadelphia printer who produced the first published copies of the Declaration of Independence was John Dunlap.
Congress ordered Dunlap to print broadside copies after approving the Declaration on July 4, 1776. Working in Philadelphia, he reportedly spent the night setting type, correcting the text, and printing sheets for rapid distribution. These sheets became known as the Dunlap broadsides.
About 200 copies are thought to have been printed, although the exact number is uncertain. The broadsides were sent to the colonies and military leaders, helping spread the news of independence beyond the congressional chamber. George Washington received a copy and ordered the Declaration read to his troops on July 9.
A frequent mix-up involves Robert Aitken or Mary Katherine Goddard. Aitken was a notable Philadelphia printer, but Dunlap handled the first broadside printing. Goddard produced a later 1777 edition that included the names of the signers, unlike the original Dunlap broadside. The famous parchment document displayed today is the engrossed signed copy, not a Dunlap broadside.