The Typesetting and Designs of the Declaration of Independence Broadsides

"The Typesetting and Designs of the Declaration of Independence Broadsides" by Craig Welsh, Associate Professor of Communications & Humanities, Penn State Harrisburg

As broadside copies of the Declaration of Independence dashed by horseback through the American colonies in 1776, printers hurriedly typeset and printed new versions. Mysteries surround the original (John) Dunlap Broadside, including a copy claimed to have been found behind a painting purchased for $4.00 at a flea market in the 1980s. Baltimore-based Mary Katharine Goddard deftly printed the lesser-known first copy of the document that included the names of all the signers. An early printing in Philadelphia was typeset in German with blackletter type. There were errors, varying approaches to layouts, ornamenting, and some peculiar typesetting decisions. The Berkshire Museum in Pittsfield, Massachusetts recently “found” an original copy of the (Ezekiel) Russell broadside in late 2022. And did Frederick Goff make a questionable type-related assertion in his 1976 book The John Dunlap Broadside: The First Printing of the Declaration of Independence? We’ll time travel to the cobblestone streets of colonial America to examine its most influential document as the 250th (Semiquincentennial) anniversary of its printing is celebrated in 2026.

Craig Welsh has had design work exhibited in more than 15 countries
and has been a featured speaker at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian
Design Museum (NYC), and Hamilton Wood Type & Printing
Museum. His work has received international recognition from
Cannes Lions, Communication Arts, D&AD, One Show, and Type
Directors Club, among others. After earning a B.S. in architecture
from Penn State University, he earned an M.A. in Advertising
Design from Syracuse University and an M.F.A. in Graphic Design
from Marywood University. In addition to his letterpress print shop
and studio work, he is currently an Associate Professor of Communications
& Humanities at Penn State Harrisburg.