Wife of John Adams (1744-1818), the second President of the United States, and mother of John Quincy Adams, the sixth, and is regarded as the first Second Lady of the United States and the second First Lady of the United States though the terms were not coined until after her death. Scarce ALS signed “Mother, Abigail Adams,” one page, 7 x 7.75, no date. To her daughter-in-law Ann ‘Nancy’ Harrod Adams, in full: “Commit this hasty scratch of my pen to the flames my dear Nancy. It is written more to shew you how much I bear you in mind, and how tenderly I love you than to afford you any entertainment – a mere chit chat scrible [sic] – not half so elegant so refined so sentimental as my dear Daughters to her ever affectionate Mother Abigail Adams.” She adds a lengthy postscript, “present me kindly to all your family, Mrs. Smith Caroline John and Susan all send a thousand Loves & kisses for our dear Babe – even Juno & Theatis would embrace her.” The reverse bears an address panel in Adams’s hand. Trimmed top edge, light toning to right side of letter, intersecting folds, and a couple light creases, otherwise fine condition. Juno and Satan were Abigail Adams’ dogs and were the first pets to live in the White House. Satan, ostensibly, had died by the time this letter was written, six years after the Adamses had left the White House. After returning to Quincy, Mrs. Adams was frequently seen walking with Juno. There is no reference to “Theatis” in any of the Adams Papers at the Massachusetts Historical Society, but Abigail did also have cats in Quincy from time. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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