Description
Book signed by former President John Adams. Twelvemo, [unpaginated]. Marbled boards, red leather spine with gilt bands. Edges worn, lower corner bumped. Scattered foxing, not affecting text. Signed by former President John Adams, after handwritten poem, penned by his granddaughter, Elizabeth Coombs Adams. The poem, which is partially based on verse from Ecclesiastes 12:1, reads as follows: “My young friend, Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth and in extreme stages of thine old age, He will be thy comfort and support. John Adams. Quincy, August 8th, 1825.” Adams made a correction in his own hand to “extreme,” adding “est.” At the time of this inscription, John Adams was plagued with arthritis and would pass away within 11 months. The rest of the volume is filled with poems, letters and notes from members of the Adams family.
Comments: Provenance: this book was gifted from President Adams to “an in-law he considered a granddaughter,” Susan Dayton Harrod Boyd. It was inherited by Susan Boyd’s son, Charles, then to his daughter, Emily Dearborn Boyd, whose signatures appears on the front pastedown endpaper. It was inherited from Emily Boyd by her grandson, Charles Boyd Coleman, who sold it to Gray Collections. Purchased from RR Auctions in 2019.
