There was one handwritten, signed official copy of the Declaration of Independence, and it is kept by the National Archives. The first printed version, the Dunlap broadside, was made in about 200 copies, but those were printed copies rather than signed originals.

The distinction

  • Signed original: 1 copy.
  • First printed copies: about 200.
  • Known surviving Dunlap broadsides today: 26.

Why the answer varies

People often mix up the signed parchment with the printed copies distributed after July 4, 1776. The signed parchment is the famous single original, while the printed broadsides were used to spread the news.

A simple way to remember it

If you mean “How many originals were signed?” the answer is one. If you mean “How many printed copies were made?” the answer is about 200.