Four book set once belonging to Adams (all but Vol III bearing his personal bookplate affixed to the inside front cover), entitled “Letters of The Marquise du Deffand to the Hon. Horace Walpole, afterwards Earl of Orford, From the Year 1766 to the Year 1780. To Which are Added Letters of Madame du Deffand to Voltaire, From the Year 1759 to the Year 1775.” Published from the Originals at Strawberry –Hill. London: 1810. The first three volumes are identified on each respective title page as Vol. I, Vol. II, and Vol. III. A 17-page preface and 45 page biography titled “Some Account of the Life of The Marquise du Deffand” in English precede 400 pages in French in Volume I. All 620 pages in Vol. II are in French; the original spine has been replaced. All 478 pages in Vol. III are in French. The fourth volume is identified as “Vol. IV.” on the bottom left of the first page and is titled in French, “Lettres de la Marquis du Deffand a Monsieur Walpole.” Accompanied by a nice ink signature, “J. Q. Adams,” on an off-white 1.75 x 1 slip affixed to a slightly larger slip.
Housed in a custom 9.5 x 15.5 red clamshell case, with four compartments, three-quarter red cloth, quarter red leather spine which is gilt lettered “IV VOLUMES FROM THE LIBRARY OF PRESIDENT JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.” The cover is lettered in gilt, “Walpole & Voltaire / From the Library of John Quincy Adams.” In very good condition, with some light toning and soiling to signature, aforementioned repairs and restorations to books.
In 1778, at the age of ten, John Quincy Adams accompanied his father to France when the elder John Adams was sent by Congress to seek aid for the new nation in the Revolutionary War. For two years, the future sixth president of the United States studied at a private school in Paris before returning to America. As a young adult, he traveled to France several times in an official capacity, so it comes as no surprise that the young Adams would become quite the Francophile! To think, one book in French from the library of John Quincy Adams would be quite desirable. Here offered are four in an attractive custom presentation case and an accompanying signature! Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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