25431

A Remarkable and Important Collection of Items Wh

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Other Start Price:9,000.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
A Remarkable and Important Collection of Items Wh
<B>A Remarkable and Important Collection of Items Which Belonged to Abigail Adams, Second First Lady of the United States</B></I> Included are two dress fabric swatches and two different pieces of lace trim, impeccably documented by an 1876 note from her granddaughter, Elizabeth Cooms Adams, as well as a beautifully embroidered silk sewing case also belonging to Mrs. Adams. A famous Gilbert Stuart portrait of Abigail Adams in the National Gallery shows her wearing a lace shawl with identical lace trim. The note reads: <I>"Mass July 1876 -- A piece of Reps silk dress worn by Abigail Adams in London, wife of John Adams, Minister to the Court of St. James, coming home to Quincy in 1787, and bought the Homestead which has had five generations living in it. This silk dress and long train left to my mother in Abigail's will. The Reps silk with the pink dots and garnet satin dress that she is painted in Stuart's Portrait and now belongs to Charles F. Adams' and I have the old lace scarf back from the old State House in Philadelphia where we sent things for the Centennial. ECA (Elizabeth Cooms Adams)."</B></I> It is hard to imagine better documentation for such early artifacts. The needle case is of a stiff fabric which was covered with off-white silk, on which a floral decoration was embroidered on each side by Abigail Adams. It folds open rather like a wallet, and contains various compartments for sewing implements. The needle case was obtained together with the other items, and is accompanied by what is clearly a 19th century slip reading, "needle case belonging to Abigail Adams." On the reverse of the note is an old pencil notation in a different hand, identifying this handwriting as being of Elizabeth Cooms Adams; however the style of the handwriting is not consistent with the above-quoted note, which is assuredly in her hand. But it is clearly a very old attribution in any case, and is certainly believable as it came with the other items. Abigail Adams was one of the most famous and important First Ladies, and items owned by her are nearly as significant as those of Martha Washington, and actually considerably scarcer. Together with the 19th century notes, these items form a very nice, impressive display unit for this important First Lady. Lot:254