Mystery declaration of independence

[jimb]

I found this at a second hand store and after years of investigation I still can not figure out just what it is? It has words that are uncorrected. T's that are not crossed, and the ones that are, are crossed short. In the regular one T's are crossed long. Even the signatures have a few that are different then original. It definitely is a rough copy, but one I have never seen before. Measures 16.5" X 21". Any experts around? There are a few things that are a mystery to me concerning the published declaration. One of them is why would learned men such as Ben Franklen, publish a document with corrections added to it? I would think that an official government document would be perfect!

The word ONLY between lines is on original. On mine it is missing.

Another thing that I find a little strange is that Franklin signed his name (from official site) B Franklin. Then why on the document is it signed, Benj A Franklin? Did he only use one signing for official business and the other for every day signing? Or did someone else sign for him?

 

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[wheelerite]

does the paper have some kind of watermark that dates it back to the seventeen hundreds. That would be my first place I looked.
K smith

 

[jimb]

I never had it out of the frame. I do not see a watermark through the front of the paper.

 

[cyberdan]

Is the document mounted to a matt board? I see a parchment type of paper with either shadow lines or printed border. If shadow lines the outer border is a matt board. If there is a printed border is the parchment color also printed?

My first recommendation is take it to a local university professor that teaches US history. Just see what he has to say.