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John Quincy Adams Autograph Note Signed...
Description
John Quincy Adams Writes from St. Petersburg Announcing the Death of His Infant Daughter
John Quincy Adams Autograph Note Signed ("J. Q.
Adams"). Cut slip measuring 8 1/4 x 4 3/4 inches; [St.
Petersburg]; [September 16, 1812]. Affixed to a display mat to an
overall size of 18 1/2 x 12 inches.A deeply personal note from John Quincy Adams to his sister-in-law, Mrs. Ann Harrod Adams, written in St. Petersburg the day after the death of his infant daughter, Louisa Catherine Adams II, who died of dysentery on September 15, 1812. At the time, Adams was serving as U.S. Minister to Russia, and his daughter was the first known American to be born in that country. Adams writes, in full:
"My dear Mrs. Adams,
Our dear child surrendered her spirit to her maker last evening at ten minutes before six o'clock. We propose to have the funeral at 3. o'clock on Saturday afternoon.
Your afflicted friend and brother
J. Q. Adams."
Condition: Very good, with light toning and expected folds. Affixed to the mat with linen tape on the verso; bottom right corner separated and reattached with archival tape on the verso. A nineteenth-century pencil annotation on the verso reads: "From J. Q. Adams to Mrs. T. B. Adams. Fanny Adams N." The writing and signature remain dark and highly legible.
Auction Info
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This lot is in: 1 -
Signature® Floor Session (Live Floor, Live Phone, Mail, Fax, Internet, and Heritage Live):
(Lots 42001-42298) - 11:00 AM Central Time, Friday, June 19, 2026.
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Heritage Auctions - Dallas
2801 W. Airport Freeway
Dallas, TX 75261
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