Autograph Letter Signed, single sheet folded 3pp. 9" x 71/2" John Adams to John Luzac, London, April 19, 1786 [see full transcription below] The 1786 timeframe of this important American letter found its author, John Adams resident in London and serving simultaneously as U.S. Minister to Britain and to The Netherlands. Possibly at the direct request of the eminent American physician, legislator, and early historian of the American Revolution David Ramsay, and certainly invoking his own scholarly and patriotic pride, Adams used his office to promote Ramsay’s first treatise on the Revolution, “The History of the Revolution of South Carolina, …” (1785). The noted London reformist publisher Charles Dilly had already been approached by Ramsay to offer the work in England, but sensitivities among the British public with respect to some of its content caused the book to be effectively banned in that country. The next logical target in their effort to widen the market for a book with strong potential appeal in liberal and republican circles abroad was The Netherlands. With Dilly’s collaboration, Adams approached his old acquaintance Jean Luzac, whose cousin Elie Luzac was a Dutch publisher and bookseller of great renown internationally within the scholarly community. The Adams letter offered here, intact with Dilly’s forwarding note, documents that high-level approach, and is referenced in Adams’ diary (#44 - Apr. 19,1786) with the entry of the same date as the letter. PROVENANCE: It is noteworthy that this letter, clearly the original and not a retained copy, has a long history of ownership among collateral descendants of Dr. David Ramsay, in the line of his elder brother Nathaniel. It remained in that branch of the Pennypacker family of Pennsylvania and Maryland for at least 150 years until consigned to auction. Perhaps there was a specific effort on the part of David or one of his relatives to retrieve this document from Luzac for posterity. The partial line of descent established within the family follows: Samuel Whitaker Pennypacker (1843-1916); Isaac Rusling Pennypacker (1852-1935); Isaac Anderson Pennypacker (1879-1950); Nathaniel Ramsay Pennypacker (1921-2009); the present consignor. CONDITION: Fine; original fold lines only; very minor and sporadic creasing at one edge, with small dog ear at both corners of that edge; typical small paper loss surrounding seal point, not affecting text. TRANSCRIPTION: /p.1/ London April 19, 1786 Dear Sir, Mr. Dilly is desirous of sending to your care, an American work, of a great deal of merit. I took the liberty of recommending him to you, as a gentleman of the best character, who would probably condescend to undertaking the business so far at least as to put it into the hands of a bookseller both intelligent & responsible. With great Esteem and affection your Friend and humble Servant John Adams ////Mr John Luzac / Professor of Greek Literature / at the University of Leyden. //// /p.2/ [in Dilly’s hand] Sixty Lots of The History of the Revolution of South Carolina 2 Vol. Bd. 30: 0: 0 @ 10s per copy - to box of Shipping the same 0:14: 0 L 30:14:0 /p.3/ Lond: 5 May 1786 Sir, In consequence of his Excellency Mr. Adams recommending to your care, D. Ramsay's Hist. of the War in the Southern Parts of America I have caused a box of them containing 60 lots to be shipped on board The Rotterdam Packet Capt Shey - - The box has only your name written upon it and the place of residence // The vessel I believe is now filled. I sh'd have forwarded this information sooner but as The Rotterdam Packet was the first - I delaid till now - The Booksellers are allowed 2s/ for both profit - The lot is retailed for Twelve Shillings Sterling & 1 up in the boards - as I send them out - they should be sold a little higher on account of the expenses of the boxes freightage // I shall list the price of the books [ ? ] back of Mr. Adams letter - and you will please instruct the Book /‘s[eller] accordingly As I shall settle with the author for copies sold in about three months - you will be so obliging as to let one know the success of sale - and the work is liked - I will hope the whole of them may be sold in a short time P( ? ) sir, your obed.t humble servt ; Ch Dilly, Books.r in London ///Cover side/// Mr Luzac Professor of Greek Literature at the University of Leyden [with red wax seal and franking mark: “12”]

Fine; original fold lines only; very minor and sporadic creasing at one edge, with small dog ear at both corners of that edge; typical small paper loss surrounding seal point, not affecting text.