FIRST EDITION COLLOTYPE LlTHOGRAPH. New Canaan Connecticut, 1951.
A patriotic masterpiece hand-lettered and illustrated in 9 colors on heavy stock, dramatically describing famous events in American history. Image size measures 29 1/2" x 23 1/2"

Arthur Szyk is world renowned as the foremost manuscript illuminator of modern times. Born in Lodz,, Poland (1894), he later resided in Paris, then London (where he supervised the printing of his famous Haggadah), and finally Canada and the United States where he became a leading citizen. Szyk fought tyranny and aggression throughout the world through his pen and ink drawings. His World War II caricatures and cartoons lampooning the Nazis and Axis leaders became his sword. Known as "Roosevelt's soldier with a pen", Szyk's hatred of bigotry and racism, and his celebration of freedom and democracy made him the most prominent political caricaturist in America during the Second World War. Szyk's drawings of George Washington and His Times were purchased by the King of Poland and presented to President Franklin Roosevelt and hung in The White House. His works have been exhibited in the finest galleries in Europe to the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. His profound love for America, its history and its people, culminate in this, his New Canaan Edition of The Declaration of Independence. This is one of Szyk's last works and the largest of his illuminations. Arthur Szyk died in 1951.

DEDICATED TO THE TOWN OF NEW CANAAN where Arthur Szyk lived, this edition of The Declaration has come to be known as The New Canaan Edition. Upon completion of the original work of art, it was dedicated on July 4, 1950 in festive celebration in New Canaan, Connecticut.

This work features the complete printed text of The Declaration above the names of the signers. Each colony is shown with its proper seal. The border is composed of flags of all the states as well as Panama, Puerto Rico and The Virgin Islands. A large vignette of George Washington and smaller vignettes of Revolutionary War soldiers highlight the illumination.

A patriotic masterpiece beautifully hand-lettered and illustrated in Szyk's miniaturist style which dramatically illuminates famous events in American history surrounding the text of The Declaration. Upon completion of the original work of art, it was dedicated in festive celebration in New Canaan, Connecticut on July 4, 1950.

Arthur Szyk (1894-1951), a Jewish immigrant from Poland, who treasured his American citizenship, also created a patriotic work entitled "George Washington and His Times" - a series of Revolutionary War images which illuminated America's struggle for freedom. Szyk has been considered by many to be the greatest 20th century illuminator in the style of the 16th century miniaturists. He was the leading political caricaturist in America during World War II, and his illuminated Passover Haggadah,, published in 1939, was hailed by the London Times: "The most beautiful book ever created by human hands."

This work features the complete printed text of The Declaration of Independence above the names of the signers. Each colony is shown with its proper seal. The border is composed of flags of all the states as well as Panama, Puerto Rico and The Virgin Islands. A large vignette of George Washington and smaller vignettes of Revolutionary War soldiers highlight the illumination.