Description:

John Adams Free Frank to Fellow Signer Benjamin Rush

Free Frank, 1p, measuring 12" x 7.5" (unfolded), dated May 14, 1810, Quincy, MA. A transmittal envelope hand addressed by former President John Adams (1735-1826) from his home in Quincy to fellow Declaration signer Benjamin Rush (1746-1813). Signed on the sender's line as "J. Adams" and marked "Free" in his hand at top right corner. In the original letter, Adams writes to Rush lamenting the loss of his friend Benjamin Lincoln (1733-1810), and gives a brief description of his funeral and interment. Accompanied by a bonus 6" x 7.5" engraving of Adams produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Lightly toned, with minor creasing and markings throughout, not affecting text. A near fine example overall- bold, crisp lettering.

A full transcript of the formerly enclosed letter (not included in this lot) can be found here.

John Adams and Benjamin Rush first met in 1774 as members of the Continental Congress- Adams from Massachusetts, Rush from Pennsylvania. In 1805, after Adams was defeated in his quest for a second term as President, the two men sought to rekindle their earlier friendship through correspondence. While they often held differing views on the nature of the American Revolution and the Constitution itself, their dedication to the new Republic's wellbeing was undoubtedly aligned. In a letter dated July 20, 1811, Rush notably reminds Adams of what he viewed as the "pensive and awful silence that pervaded the house" during the Declaration's signing. Indeed, Rush believed that, while the newly founded United States was free of British rule, the "American Revolution" was far from over. In contrast, accusations of despotism by political rivals would cause Adams to lose his second term as President, making him a contentious figure in the eyes of some.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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January 10, 2024 10:30 AM EST
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$100 $299 $20
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$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
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$50,000 + $5,000