record number: 110003

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Dates:

1 Jan. 1801

Original paper slip text:1 Jan. 1801

Author:

John Adams

Original paper slip text:JA

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and

Abigail Smith Adams

Original paper slip text:AA

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Recipient:

Theodorus Bailey

Original paper slip text:Theodorus Bailey

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and

Rebecca Tallmadge Bailey

Original paper slip text:Rebecca Tallmadge Bailey

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(dinner invitation)

Title:

Length:

1 p. (printed form)

Notes:

Original now at White House Historical Association:White House Coll. 10/4/18
Offered for sale, Charles Hamilton Auction: Cat. No. 53, lot 4 (21 Oct. 1971)
4 (ADAMS, JOHN: FIRST WHITE HOUSE RECEPTION). Original partly printed oblong 16mo invitation to a Presidential dinner. "The President of the United States, & Mrs. Adams requests the Pleasure of Mr. & Mrs. Bailys Company to Dine, on Thursday next, at 4 o'clock. Jan. 1, 1801. An Answer is requested." Very slightly trimmed and lightly tipped to a mount. Doublematted (in elegant bright-blue velour, inner-linings gilt) with matching hand-colored portraits of John and Abigail Adams, the whole contained under glass in a striking gilt-wooden frame, overall size about 13″ × 16″. One of the first partly printed White House invitations, to a New Year's dinner honoring the arrival of the 19th century! In Marie Smith's book, Entertaining at the White House, Acropolis, 1967, it is related that the White House was opened to the public for the first time on New Year's day, 1801, and that on that day, President and Mrs. Adams gave a public reception, "...their first large-scale entertaining since taking up residence in the mansion, still largely unfinished and unfurnished..." Rare display piece, handsomely framed. (100.00)

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