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Bookplate: Coat of Arms with John Adams inscribed below

Unknown

1850

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Bookplate: Coat of Arms with John Adams inscribed below is a 1850 by Unknown, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Unknown
When & what style?: 1850
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

This image shows a simple coat of arms on a light background. At the top is a shield with three crosses and a lion standing above it. Around the shield, there’s a banner with Latin words: *"Libertatem Amicitiam Retineris Et Fidem."* Below the shield, the name "John Adams" is written in plain letters. Small stars sit around the edges, framing the whole design. The coat of arms looks old-fashioned, with clear lines and no shading. The Latin phrase roughly means *"Hold onto liberty, friendship, and faith."* That’s a common theme in early American symbols. If you like old symbols like this, check out The Cleveland Museum of Art for more historical pieces.