Press Release

The American Legion
William R. Blackshear Post 78
611 State St.
Jasper, Texas 75951

JASPER - A monumental, historical milestone in the history of the United States was reached Thursday, August 19 in Houston, Texas, when 1,000 first-ever color facsimile copies of the Declaration of Independence were printed.

The first, true-size color print of the Declaration of Independence, measuring 24 1/2 inches wide by 29 3/4 inches long, are printed on low-acid, 80-pound white vintage-velvet cover paper measuring 26 inches wide by 40 inches in length. The famous document was reproduced from a color photographic transparency that was obtained during the 1987 bicentennial celebration in Washington, DC.

The first edition of the 1,000 prints, and all subsequent prints, will be hand serial numbered stating: The first true-size color facsimile print of the Declaration of Independence. Produced from a color photographic transparency created by the National Archives during the Bicentennial Celebration of 1987. First Edition of One Thousand Serial Number ___. Printed on the Two-Hundredth and Twenty-third anniversary of the signing of the engrossed war document of unanimous declaration dated July 4, 1776. Printed in the United States of America, 1999 by Historical Document Reproductions, Inc., P. O. Box 1021, Jasper, Texas, 75951-1021. Website: www.freedomdocuments.com

"The American Legion Post 78 hopes that the revenue generated from this unique distribution program will lead to more printings, and eventually, make these color prints of the Declaration of Independence available not only to every school in Texas, but throughout the United States," said Post 78 Commander James K. Mitchell, Jr.

Prints of the document are available through the William R. Blackshear American Legion Post 78 of Jasper, Texas, in cooperation with Historical Document Reproductions, Inc., and can be obtained at website www.freedomdocuments.com

For more information contact James Mitchell at 409-381-8555.