Today marks the 248th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. It seems we mark the day more than the underlying event. But in the past the Declaration was more widely celebrated, including in patents.
U.S. Patent No. 8,936, which issued February 1, 1875, on a Design for Fan, that is printed,
stained, embossed, or painted the coat of arms of the original thirteen Federal States,
upon the lower end of a shield upon which, and above the coat of arms, is the name of
one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence from the State or Colony whose coat
of arms is shown upon the same shield:
U.S. Patent No. 7829 issued on November 3, 1874, on a medal that consists of “a representation on one side of said medal of Carpenter’s Hall, in the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania” and “representation on the other side of said medal of the signing of the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America.”
U.S. Patent No. D8000, issued January 12, 1875, on a design for a medal with “an allegorical picture of America, showing the Declaration of Independence to Britannia, and
holding the American flag unfurled and about to be planted on American soil.”
U.S. Patent No. D8364 issued June 1, 1875, on a design for a Fan with “an elevation of the United States Centennial Exposition Buildling, printed or otherwise produced upon the obverse sidle of the fan,” and a reverse side containing “the names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, with representations of foliage and of articles pertaining to industrial pursuits, and at the central upper part a medallion likeness of Washington, surrounded by the national flag and surmounted by the words “ E Pluribus Unum,” the centennial dates 1776—1876, the representation of an eagle, and of a galaxy of stars.
U.S. Patent 8581 issued August 24, 1875, on a Medal of a tree whose thirteen roots
represent the original thirteen colonies of the United States, the names of which are placed
upon the roots. The trunk has, at its base, the words “Declaration of Independence’
around the date 1776, and the word “Constitution” along its length upward. The eighteen
branches represent the eighteen administrations, which are indicated by the names of the
Presidents of the United States thereupon. Upon the foliage the names of the thirty-seven
States and twelve Territories now comprising the Union are written:
U.S. Patent No. 8593 issued August 31, 1875, on a Flag on design consists of a tree, whose
thirteen roots represent the original thirteen colonies of the United States, the names of
which are written upon the roots. The trunk has at its base the words, “Declaration of In
dependence’ around the date 1776, and the word “Constitution’ along its length upward.
The eighteen branches represent the eighteen administrations, which are indicated by the
names of the Presidents of the United States thereupon. Upon the foliage the names of
the thirty-seven States and twelve Territories now composing the Union are written. The words “The Century Plant” are written above the tree, and beneath them the date 1876. Below the tree is a monogram of the initials J. C. D., and the whole is surrounded by a border of one hundred linked circles, and the dates beginning with 1776 and ending with
1876.
U.S. Patent No. D8876 issued December 28, 1875, on Printing or Weaving of Silk or Other Fabrics, features the preamble and signatures from the Declaration of Independence:
Have a happy and safe Fourth of July, and make sure to remember the document and its authors who made our freedom to do so possible.