Bob Kebler writes:

The official handwritten Declaration of Independence wasn't even signed until Aug. 2, 1776. That revered, calligraphic version is in the National Archives, much faded.

But a copy at Washington University in St. Louis actually was made earlier than the official document. The university was given in 2015 a rare, printed broadside and has built a permanent display of its copy.

Only seven Southwick broadsides are known to survive. Washington University's copy is one.

Brand says that the Southwick broadside was actually the first signed Declaration, with Rhode Island's secretary of state, Henry Ward, signing it to attest to its legitimacy.

The university's copy was owned by Eric and Evelyn Newman for six decades, hanging on the wall of their Clayton home.

"He was very proud of it," says John Hoover, who saw the Southwick broadside in the Newmans' home. "It's a very princely gift to Washington University."

The Newmans were active philanthropists in St. Louis, with Evelyn Newman involved in starting the Greater St. Louis Book Fair and the ScholarShop. She died in 2015; Eric Newman, a lawyer and coin authority (his collection eventually brought $72 million at auctions), died in 2017.

The Newmans donated not only the historic Declaration of Independence to Washington University, but gave some $10 million to help refurbish its library.

To read the complete article, see:
Made in 1776: Rare copy of the Declaration of Independence goes on view at Washington U.(https://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/books-and-literature/made-in-rare-copy-of-the-declaration-of-independence-goes/article_7e07b5dd-3129-5ebc-a0da-47169f0fd0ae.html)

To view the complete video, see:
"Hot news"— The Southwick Broadside(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxHlfBo_UBI)

To listen to a St. Louis Public Radio interview baout it, see:
Rare copy of Declaration of Independence on display at Wash U(http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/rare-copy-declaration-independence-display-wash-u#stream/0)