Eleanor Finch
The United States Constitution was first printed in 1787 by Dunlap & Claypoole during the Constitutional Convention. The printers produced 820 draft copies and 500 final copies, with 13 original copies known to exist today. The final copies were printed on six-page broadsides with Caslon small-pica type, though the original constitution consisted of seven articles. The document was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and laid out the structure of the U.S. government and its three branches. The constitution was printed on parchment paper, a type of paper with a unique appearance and an aging process that may cause it to darken over time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Paper type | Parchment paper |
| Printing type | Printed on sheepskin parchment |
| Printing company | Dunlap & Claypoole |
| Number of copies | 500 copies |
| Printing date | 1787 |
| Location | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution was printed on parchment paper
The United States Constitution was first printed in 1787 by Dunlap & Claypoole during the Constitutional Convention. The original printing consisted of 13 copies, 820 draft copies, and 500 final copies. The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It was completed on September 17, 1787, and was debated, drafted, and signed at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The use of parchment paper for the Constitution is significant as it contributes to the sense of history and permanence associated with the document. The antiqued appearance of the paper emphasizes the age and importance of the Constitution as a foundational document of the United States.
Additionally, the parchment paper used for the Constitution was not just ordinary parchment but genuine animal skin parchment, specifically sheepskin parchment. This type of parchment was produced by hand by Jesse Meyer, a living relative of John Adams and Samuel Adams. The use of animal skin parchment further adds to the uniqueness and significance of the Constitution as a historical document.
The printing of the Constitution on parchment paper, particularly animal skin parchment, underscores the importance and longevity intended for this document. The choice of paper was deliberate and symbolic, reflecting the desire for the Constitution to endure and serve as the foundation of the United States government and its laws.
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It was also printed on animal skin
The United States Constitution was first printed by Dunlap & Claypoole in 1787, during the Constitutional Convention. John Dunlap received the first draft of the Constitution from the Committee of Detail for printing as a seven-page broadside on August 4, 1787, and it was turned around in two days for the Convention's members.
The U.S. Constitution available for sale as a collector's replica is printed on parchment paper. The parchment paper has been through an aging process, giving each document a unique appearance. The original U.S. Constitution was also printed on parchment, specifically sheepskin parchment, and was produced by hand by Jesse Meyer, a living relative of John Adams and Samuel Adams.
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The first draft was printed as a seven-page broadside
The printing of the United States Constitution was undertaken by John Dunlap of Dunlap & Claypoole on August 4, 1787. Dunlap received the first draft from the Committee of Detail for printing as a seven-page broadside. This draft was turned around in just two days for the members of the Convention. Dunlap & Claypoole were designated as the official printers for Congress in 1778 and had been printing for them since 1775. Notably, they had printed the first copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation.
During the 1787 Constitutional Convention, Dunlap & Claypoole printed 820 draft copies and 500 final copies. The final printing was a six-page broadside with Caslon small-pica type. There was a sole typographical error in the final print, which mistakenly spelled out a number in Article Five. This error was corrected in subsequent reprints.
There are 12 remaining complete final printings (and one incomplete) of the Constitution known to exist. The final printings were rarely auctioned in the 200 years since their initial printing. In 2024, a copy of the official edition endorsed by the Congress of the Confederation was sold at Brunk Auctions for $9 million.
The United States Constitution, consisting of seven Articles, is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the oldest and shortest written constitution of any major government in the world, comprising 4,440 words across four pages. The Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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500 copies of the final draft were printed
The United States Constitution was first printed in 1787 during the Constitutional Convention. The printers, Dunlap & Claypoole, produced 500 copies of the final draft, as well as 820 copies of the draft version. The final copies were printed as a six-page broadside with Caslon small-pica type. There was a sole typographical error in the final printings, which mistakenly spelled out a number in Article Five. This error was corrected in subsequent reprints.
Today, there are 12 remaining complete final printings (and one incomplete) of the Constitution known to exist. The final printings were rarely auctioned in the 200 years since their printing. In 2024, a copy of the official edition endorsed by the Congress of the Confederation was sold at Brunk Auctions for $9 million.
The original Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, at what is now Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It consisted of seven Articles, the first three of which embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, dividing the federal government into three branches: the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary.
The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States of America. It lays out the structure of the U.S. government, including the organization and powers granted to each branch. At 4,440 words and only four pages, it is the oldest and shortest written Constitution of any major government in the world.
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The printers were Dunlap & Claypoole
The printers for the United States Constitution were indeed Dunlap & Claypoole. The company was owned by John Dunlap and David C. Claypoole, who had been printing for the US Congress since 1775 and were designated the official printers for Congress in 1778. During this period, they also printed the first copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation.
On August 4, 1787, John Dunlap received the first draft of the Constitution from the Committee of Detail. Dunlap & Claypoole then printed 820 draft copies of the Constitution in two days for the members of the Constitutional Convention. The printers produced a further 500 final copies, for a total cost of $420. These final copies were six-page broadsides printed with Caslon small-pica type. There was a sole typographical error in these final copies, which mistakenly spelled out a number in Article Five. This error was corrected in subsequent reprints.
Today, 12 complete final printings and one incomplete copy of the Constitution printed by Dunlap & Claypoole are known to exist. In addition, 13 original copies of the first printing from 1787 are still in existence.
The United States Constitution is the oldest and shortest written constitution of any major government in the world, consisting of just 4,440 words across four pages. It was signed on September 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution is printed on parchment paper, a type of paper made from animal skin.
The parchment paper that the US Constitution is printed on is made from sheepskin.
The parchment paper was produced by hand by Jesse Meyer, a living relative of John Adams and Samuel Adams.
The parchment paper was made in Montgomery, New York, in the historic Hudson River Valley.
The US Constitution was first printed by Dunlap & Claypoole in 1787, during the Constitutional Convention.
