Wikipedia:POTD column/September 9, 2006



This facsimile of the United States Declaration of Independence was created in 1823 by William J. Stone using a wet-ink transfer process, where the surface of the document was moistened, and some of the original ink transferred to the surface of a copper plate which was then etched so that copies could be run off the plate on a press. Because of poor conservation of the original 1776 document through the 19th century, this engraving, rather than the 1776 original, has become the basis of most modern reproductions.

Image credit: William J. Stone Archive - More featured pictures...