Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration Desk

Product Description

Known as the Declaration Desk, Thomas Jefferson’s writing box is small, portable and features an adjustable sloped writing surface, as well as a compartmented drawer for correspondence, writing materials and associated supplies. It was on this desk that Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

Author Ed Zappen studied the desk and its history for more than 15 years, and had access to the original, now in the Smithsonian, to record measurements and details. In ”Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration Desk,”he shares with you the story of this important artifact of American history, and a summation of the events that led to the American Revolution and some of the people involved, as well as a bibliography for those who wish to further study the period and the Declaration of Independence.

And of course Zappen provides construction drawings, details and techniques, as well as plenty of colour photos, to guide you as you build your own faithful replica of the Declaration Desk.

The original Declaration Desk was made by Philadelphia cabinetmaker Benjamin Randolph (1721-1791). It’s a typical 18th-century desk for a man of letters, with a baize-covered bi-fold writing surface that is adjustable via a hinged support that rests in stops atop the desk box. The delicate drawer features tiny half-blind dovetails at the front, along with a thin inlay of satinwood that is mirrored on the back of the mitered box. The drawer interior is cleverly divided with two inkwell compartments and a longer cubby in between for quills, with room behind for paper. It’s a lovely little build – and a lovely little compact book – for those interested in 18th-century furniture and furnishings.

About the Book
The 80 page full colour hardbound book is 9.5”x 6”and printed in Tennessee on #80 matte paper. Its signatures are sewn and secured with fiber tape for durability. The pages are hardbound and covered in cotton cloth with foil stamping. Like all Lost Art Press books, it is produced entirely in the United States.

About the Author

Edward Zappen (1942-2025) was a Wisconsin circuit court judge, a retired Air Force Lt. Colonel, a lifelong woodworker and a Thomas Jefferson aficionado. For many years, his passion was the meticulous recreation of Jefferson’s writing desk. Affectionately calling it an ”18th-century laptop,”Zappen painstakingly researched the desk’s authentic materials and methods. A jeweler crafted custom brass hinges and fasteners; a Philadelphia glassblower and his son recreated the inkwell; baize fabric was sourced from England; and dovetails were shaped with Ed’s antique hand tools. Even the nails and hide glue were historically accurate.

Zappen donated seven replicas to institutions for display, education and traveling exhibits. Recipients include the Smithsonian National Museum of American History (five desks), the American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia and Monticello in Charlottesville, Virginia. In the photo above, Zappen is viewing Jefferson’s original writing desk at the Smithsonian.

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