Boston: An extremely rare limited edition of the White House guidebook that John F Kennedy gifted on his last Christmas to his father is expected to fetch more than USD 30,000 at an auction in the US.
The red Moroccan leather bound hardcover book is inscribed by the then First Family to their patriarch – Joseph P Kennedy Sr – for Christmas 1962.
Boldly signed and inscribed on the colophon in fountain pen by the president, it reads “To Dad – With love, Jack, Christmas 1962,” and the first lady, “For Grandpa – with adoration, Jackie,” as well as in blue ballpoint by their five-year-old daughter, “Caroline.”
“This is an absolutely stunning example of this extremely rare book, as it is embossed in gilt on the cover, “J.P.K” and inscribed to the Kennedy family patriarch, Joseph P Kennedy, Sr, intended as a gift to him for Christmas 1962which would be President Kennedy’s last,” according to RR auctions in the US.
The book is accompanied by a detailed letter of provenance on White House letterhead signed by Evelyn Lincoln, who served as JFK’s only personal secretary for 12 years.
“I confirm, in writing, any details of my JFK possessions…I served JFK while he was a Congressman, a Senator and while he was the President, as his personal secretary…I… have a rare…red Moroccan leather book which is 1(A) of only 75 and it is numbered ‘1A’,” Lincoln writes.
The bidding for the auction ends on November 8.