1883 FUNERAL ADDRESS HON. CHARLES ADAMS LITCHFIELD CONN J. M. HOPPIN 1ST RARE For Sale

ITEM DESCRIPTION

Original 1883 funeral address delivered by Professor J. M. Hoppin at the services for the Hon. Charles Adams of Litchfield, Connecticut, printed by David H. Gildersleeve of New York. This solemn 16-page pamphlet offers a deeply theological and biographical tribute to a distinguished 19th-century public servant whose career bridged journalism, the clergy, the judiciary, and state politics.

Charles Adams (1805–1883), a native of Litchfield, CT, began his career as a printer in the office of Thomas Collier in New Haven before founding a paper that became the influential New Haven Palladium. He later edited the Litchfield Enquirer, served as Judge of Probate and State Senator, and at the time of his death was Secretary of the Litchfield Mutual Insurance Company. A devout Christian and deacon of the Congregational Church, his life was marked by faith, leadership, and civic commitment. The address explores both the theological interpretation of death and the profound public contributions of Adams’s life, linking his character to the religious and civic virtues of New England society.

The interior is clean and fully legible throughout, though the outer wraps show moderate signs of age, including general surface soiling, foxing, darkening, minor edge wear, and corner creases. The back cover shows mottling and light staining. While clearly aged and toned, the piece remains complete and stable, with no significant tears or losses.

This rare funeral address is a valuable primary source documenting not only the life of a respected 19th-century New Englander but also the theological outlook and civic values of his time, preserved through the eloquence of a Yale Divinity professor.

A poignant reflection on mortality, public service, and the eternal, this item would be of strong interest to collectors of Litchfield history, Connecticut ephemera, religious sermons, and early American print culture.

Make sure to see the photos above for complete details.

15 pages.

Measures approximately 6 1/2 inches tall by 5 1/2 inches wide.

KEYWORDS

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