IMPORTANT JOHN ADAMS PORTRAIT CUFF BUTTONS PAIR C. 1796

IMPORTANT JOHN ADAMS PORTRAIT CUFF BUTTONS PAIR C. 1796 AND SULLIVAN JA 1796-3.

John Adams is the most difficult president to represent in a collection with a vintage item from his era as our second president. In fact, the original DeWitt book on pre-1896 small format items has no listings at all for Adams. However, when Ed Sullivan revised the DeWitt book in 1980, he was able to picture two items and list (but not picture) this cuff button as JA 1796-3. About a dozen examples of this design are now known with un-dug examples complete with shank realizing in excess of $8000.00. This is the only matched pair ever to be auctioned and the pair was only recently discovered by our consignor. One of the two retains the original shank. Each piece measures 10 x 16 mm (about 3/8 x 5/8"). While buried, for centuries, a calcium based white chemical deposit filled in the stuck areas depicting Adams in wig and colonial attire with his name "Jo Adams" below. While the brass metal is now black in color, the Adams image and his name on each button stands out boldly. Likely a unique opportunity to own a matched pair of Adams cuff buttons.