The US Government Printing Office (GPO) is displaying a copy of an original printed preliminary version of the Emancipation Proclamation. In 1862, GPO printed the preliminary version of the Emancipation Proclamation in general orders format issued as an order from President Lincoln in his role as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. GPO printed 15,000 copies for the War Department, which were distributed to military commanders and their troops and diplomats in foreign countries. The displayed copy at GPO, on loan from the Library of Congress, contains a printer's proofing marks; those corrections were made in the final version of the Emancipation Proclamation issued in 1863. The exhibit is free and open to the public Monday through Friday, 8am to 4pm.