AN ORATION ADDRESSED TO THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF QUINCY, ON THE FOURTH OF JULY, 1831, THE FIFTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Boston: Richardson, Lord and Holbrook, 1831. First Edition. Hardcover. Leather-backed marbled boards retaining the original printed blue wrappers; 40 pages. The first child of a president to become a president, the first president to be a published poet, and the first president to be photographed, Adams was certainly one of our most intelligent presidents and one of the greatest humanitarians to hold that office. He is also the only president to serve in Congress after leaving office and is perhaps best known for two accomplishments outside his term: the authorship of the Monroe Doctrine as secretary of state and his heroic, successful argument before the Supreme Court to free the Amistad slaves. This oration is of particular interest as it was given on 4 July 1831 to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, a document his father was assigned to draft, though he left that task to Thomas Jefferson. Adams Sr. and Jefferson were the only presidents to sign the Declaration; both died on the same day--4 July 1826--exactly 50 years after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Some toning to text; blue wrappers with foxing; front endpaper before the front wrap detached; some wear to binding. About Very Good. Item #022467
Price: $100.00