A rare 1776 Declaration of Independence copy was identified in British archives from a captured American ship. The find makes it the first known Exeter Declaration discovered outside the United States.

LONDON, July 3 - A \"vanishingly rare\" copy of the Declaration of Independence has been found in London, dug up in archives holding documents from the British capture of an American privateer ship in 1776, just as the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

The rare copy is the first discovered outside the US. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Michael Scurr has been volunteering at Britain's National Archives for the last 11 years, spending his Thursday mornings painstakingly cataloging documents for the benefit of future researchers.

Michael Scurr, a volunteer at Britain’s National Archives, has discovered a rare early copy of the Declaration of Independence.