
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 3, 1991                   TAG: 9104030157
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                LENGTH: Short

MILLION-$ DECLARATION IN $4 FRAME

A man who paid $4 for an old painting found that it concealed a copy of the Declaration of Independence that was printed on July 4, 1776, and may be worth $1 million, an auction house announced Tuesday.

"Here was the most important single printed page in the world in the most spectacularly beautiful condition," said David Redden, vice president of Sotheby's, who authenticated the document.

"It took one second to know it was right," he added. "But what really astonished us was the condition - so fresh, so clean."

The painting - an old, torn depiction of a country scene - was purchased two summers ago at a flea market in Adamstown, Pa., by a Philadelphia financial analyst who liked the wooden frame, Redden said.

When he removed the painting, the frame fell apart and he found a folded document between the canvas and wood backing that appeared to be an old copy of the Declaration of Independence.

A friend who collects Civil War memorabilia advised him to have it appraised.

The owner wishes to remain anonymous and declined a request for an interview placed through Sotheby's.

The copy found behind the old painting is one of just 24 copies known to have survived. It is 15 1/2 inches by 19 3/4 inches, on slightly yellowed rag paper printed in black ink.

The newly found copy will be offered for sale June 4 at Sotheby's, which estimates its value at $800,000 to $1.2 million.

by CNB