18th-century document signed by President John Adams to be auctioned off in August

A rare artifact signed by President John Adams is among a collection of historical memorabilia from the estate of two Boston antique dealers that will be auctioned off in Amesbury next month.

The Adams piece – a signed ship’s passport dated July 18, 1797 – will hit the auction block Aug. 4. It is part of a collection of historical artifacts that includes documents related to the USS Constitution, Civil War letters and papers related to Massachusetts dating back to World War I.

The pieces are from the estate of Grace and Jacques “Jack” Weil, antique collectors and dealers who specialized in items from the mid-20th century.

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"There are a lot of collectors across the country who are very interested in these early American collections," John McInnis, of John McInnis Auctioneers in Amesbury, said.

An online listing for the Adams-signed passport has garnered 10 bids since it was posted two weeks ago and the price is up to $4,250. It will be sold in person at the Aug. 4 auction, but online or phone bidding is an option.

The passport was for a schooner named William and Mary, a boat active in the West Indies trade, the online listing says. It is signed by both Adams and then-Secretary of State Timothy Pickering. It measures 18½ by 13½ inches in its frame.

McInnis said the  Weils' collection was left to auctioneers who have been cataloguing and preparing for this sale since Grace Weil's death in 2019. Many of the items are rare, he said. He's been working with other dealers to verify, date and prepare the pieces.

"That's our specialty – handling art, antiques and things like that. We're able to examine it and verify that it's authentic," he said. "We've been doing it for so long, and we do get things like this regularly."

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Other pieces in the collection include books, published speeches and letters from abolitionists including Newburyport’s William Lloyd Garrison; a document signed by Louis VXII, King of France; and a Civil War soldier’s diary that includes a hand-drawn encampment; and archives belonging to the Rev. John S. Emerson and his descendants.

In-person previews of the artifacts will start July 30. For more information, visit mcinnisauctions.com.

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Reach Mary Whitfill at mwhitfill@patriotledger.com. 

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Rare John Adams signed artifact to be auctioned off in August