Declaration of Independence - Original Manuscript Image #3862336 (License: Personal Use)

This is the engrossed parchment copy of the Declaration of Independence, drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson and adopted by the Second Continental Congress. The document features ornate copperplate script, visible aging marks including water stains and discoloration, and the signatures of 56 Founding Fathers-including John Hancock’s famously large signature at the bottom. It resides today in the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

Used on educational, historical, and government websites to illustrate U.S. founding documents; supports user intent for research, teaching, or patriotic content related to American independence and constitutional history.