This month's History & Culture Auction features a variety of presidential lots capturing an array of historical moments from light-hearted to tragic.
The current History & Culture Auction has a striking collection of presidential autographed documents, letters, photographs, magazines, postal covers, and more. This auction features a wide assortment of materials focusing on the first-hand accounts of historical moments, such as JFK’s assassination, tributes, glimpses of presidential meetings, as well as fashion sketches and hand-written notes between Jackie Kennedy and her designer Oleg Cassini.
LOT # 1: "FOUR PRESIDENTS" AUTOGRAPHED 8 X 10" PHOTO BY REAGAN, FORD, CARTER & NIXON
Presidents Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Richard Nixon stand proudly together at the White House before Ford, Nixon, and Carter left for Cairo to attend the funeral of assassinated Egyptian president Anwar Sadat in 1981 as ordered by President Reagan. This satin finish 8 x 10" photograph is autographed by all four with bold felt tip signatures and is in fine condition overall.
Estimate: $2,500 - $3,000
LOT #10: GROVER CLEVELAND - 22ND AND 24TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES - AUTOGRAPHED 4 X 5.5" PHOTOGRAPH
Stephen Grover Cleveland (March 18, 1837 – June 24, 1908) is shown here in an autographed 4 x 5.5" photograph. Known for his work against corruption, he is the only US President to complete two non-consecutive presidential terms (1885 - 1889, and 1893 - 1897) and the only president to marry in The White House. This photograph is in fine condition overall and signed in bold black ink.
Estimate: $300 - $400
LOT #12: CALVIN COOLIDGE - 30TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES - AUTOGRAPHED 1914 CANCELED CHECK
This lot contains a Calvin Coolidge (July 4, 1872 – January 5, 1933) autographed canceled check dated August 1, 1914. The check was signed while he was serving as State Senator and Senate President before becoming President in 1923. The check is written out in his handwriting on a Hampshire County National Bank check from Northampton, Massachusetts. The check is #3191 and is paying $4 to Edwin L. Hayden. The check is 3.5 x 8.25" and is in overall fine condition.
Estimate: $350 - $400
LOT #39: RONALD & NANCY REAGAN - PRESIDENT & FIRST LADY - AUTOGRAPHED & INSCRIBED 8 X 10" PHOTOGRAPH
This 8x10" glossy photograph of President Reagan with First Lady Nancy Reagan beautifully captures the couple's youth and class. President Reagan has written, “To Leo Sylvan, Very Best Wishes Ronald Reagan.” The First Lady herself has also signed her first name “Nancy.” Although there is no date on the front, the reverse side notes a date of December 12, 1975, by the recipient, which was 11 months after his term as the Governor of California ended. This photograph is in fine overall condition.
Estimate: $200 - $250
Also Featured: A First-Hand Look at Jackie Kennedy's Fashion Inspiration as First Lady
This month’s auction also contains a unique collection of inspirations and designs of First Lady and fashion icon Jackie Kennedy. These lots include handwritten notes and sketches based on trends and styles Jackie herself admired and wanted to utilize. They are first-hand accounts of the creative process shared between herself and her fashion designer, Oleg Cassini (11 April 1913 – 17 March 2006). Cassini was an American fashion designer, who came to the United States as a young man after starting as a designer in Rome and worked at Paramount Pictures designing for films. As a notable designer for Jacqueline Kennedy, he helped her ideas come to life and established the "Jackie Look," which became very influential and admired. These lots all come from the origin of the personal property of the Estate of Oleg Cassini.
LOT #20: JACQUELINE KENNEDY HAND-WRITTEN FASHION NOTE IDEAS FOR DESIGNER OLEG CASSINI ON FASHION TEAR SHEET
This lot contains Jacqueline Kennedy hand-written notes on a fashion tear sheet sent to her personal fashion designer Oleg Cassini. Jackie's note says, " * Mexico - or this shape to leave Mexico in - Make sure peplum is either eliminated or just flat - perhaps a seam - Maybe Chartreuse Lesur #13." The tear sheet measures approximately 9.25 x 12.75". This sheet has expected handling wear including rough torn edges torn by Jackie herself.
Estimate: $200 - $250
LOT #21:JACQUELINE KENNEDY HAND-WRITTEN FASHION NOTE IDEAS FOR DESIGNER OLEG CASSINI ON FASHION TEAR SHEET
This lot contains Jacqueline Kennedy's hand-written notes on a fashion tear sheet sent to her personal fashion designer Oleg Cassini. Jackie's note reads in full: "I want to tap this (?) Send copy up here" and "Divine shape for coat - lets have same material (with drawn arrow)." The tear sheet measures approximately 8.25 x 12.5". This sheet also has expected handling wear including rough torn edges torn by Jackie herself.
Estimate: $200 - $250
LOT #22:JACQUELINE KENNEDY HAND-WRITTEN FASHION NOTE IDEAS FOR DESIGNER OLEG CASSINI ON FASHION TEAR SHEET
This lot has Jacqueline Kennedy hand-written notes on a fashion tear sheet sent to Oleg Cassini. Jackie's note reads in full: "Guy Laroche / Laroche rose geranium de Lamarre / They have this in Bergdorf Custom Dept - Think it so divine - Could Oleg do it - not too bulky - Vitally important is cut of collar - so don't let them just slap on a Peter Pan collar." The tear sheet measures approximately 9.5 x 12.75". This sheet has expected handling wear including rough torn edges torn by Jackie herself.
Estimate: $200 - $250
LOT #24: JACQUELINE KENNEDY HAND-DRAWN 11 X 14" ORIGINAL FASHION SKETCH IDEAS FOR DESIGNER OLEG CASSINI
This lot is a Jacqueline Kennedy hand-drawn original fashion sketch of ideas sent to her personal fashion designer Oleg Cassini. Jackie's note reads in part: "Love idea of simple jacket of same material as skirt / save this for next fall when we'll have an embroidered dress with this jacket - ."The vellum sketch measures approximately 11 x 14". As with the others, it has expected handling wear including fold lines.
Estimate: $750 - $1,000
Other Pivotal Moments From JFK's Presidency Captured by Rare Records, Documents, and Photographs in This Month's Auction
LOT #30: JFK TRIBUTE 7” SINGLE VINYL RECORD BY LILLIAN BROOKS
This is a JFK Tribute 7” Single Vinyl Record by Lillian Brooks. It features 'Lead on Mr. President' & 'First Lady of America.' It contains the original printed dust sleeve and is in near-fine condition.
Estimate: $40 - $50
LOT #31: JOHN F. KENNEDY ORIGINAL NOVEMBER 22, 1963 NAVAL DOCUMENT REPORTING THE ASSASSINATION OF JFK
This Original Naval Document was sent on November 22, 1963, noting "Initial reports from Dallas: President Kennedy has been shot." This is a rare contemporary report of the shocking and tragic sequence of events surrounding John F. Kennedy’s assassination. It goes into detail on the five-minute window of time that unfolded from the time he was shot until he arrived at the hospital. The document measures 8.5 x 11". It is in near fine condition. It comes from the collection of Ronald Hoskins (JFK Assassinologist), NY / Philadelphia.
Estimate: $250 - $350
LOT #32:JOHN F. KENNEDY AUTOGRAPHED PHOTO ALSO SIGNED BY CHILEAN PRESIDENT ALESSANDRI & AMBASSADOR COLE
This is an autographed glossy press photograph of President John F. Kennedy shaking Chilean President Jorge Alessandri’s hand with U.S. Ambassador to Chile, Charles W. Cole, smiling between them. John F. Kennedy is signed in bold black ink, and Alessandri and Cole have signed in bold fountain pen.
During a speech welcoming the President of Chile to the White House on December 11, 1962, President Kennedy explained the mission of the Alliance for Progress and thanked the Chilean citizens for their help during the Cuban Missile Crisis. In his toast, President Kennedy described the historical relationship between the two countries. President Alessandri replied by further explaining the similarities between the two countries' political systems and their shared duty to preserve democratic ideals. This photograph exhibits the optimism shared by both sides during this meeting.
The photograph measures 7.75 x 9.625" in size. It is in very good to fine condition, with surface impressions touching the diplomats' faces, and a thin horizontal crease passing across the photo and JFK's head. It also includes a full letter of authenticity from PSA/DNA.
Estimate: $2,000 - $2,500
As always, all items include a full letter of authenticity from JG Autographs, Inc.
Bidding is open and 30-Minute Extended Bidding Starts Tuesday, October 24th at 8:00 PM, EST. Starting at 8:00 PM, EST the clock will reset for another 30 minutes each time a bid is placed on each individual lot. The 30-minute clock reset is unique for each lot, with every lot going into its own unique countdown during extended bidding.
We are actively seeking to acquire for purchase or consignment US Presidential historical artifacts, such as autographs, documents, letters, and photographs. To auction, buy, sell, or consign your collection or other Presidential and/or First Lady pieces, please contact us today.