DATE: September 29, 2004
CONTACT: Paula Hantman, Hantman’s Auctioneers
Tel: (301) 770-3720 / (301) 704-7320
Email: hantman@hantmans.com


HANTMAN’S TO SELL MORE JACQUELINE KENNEDY
AND POLITICAL MEMORABILIA

Political memorabilia collectors will have another field day at Hantman’s upcoming live gallery-eBay simulcast auction, in conjunction with Second Story Books, on Saturday, October, 23, 2004. Numerous auction records were broken for prices paid by collectors for political memorabilia during their recent May 15th auction.

A wide assortment of political memorabilia spanning the Harding-Clinton administrations will cross the block. Included is a large segment of President Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy material and more political memorabilia from the estate of Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan [part one was sold in May].

Collectors will find everything from bill signing pens; photographs (many signed inscribed); inaugural items; White House invitations, notes, Christmas cards and programs; Presidential gift sets, including pens, tie bars, money clips, cuff links and golf balls; commemorative buttons; campaign posters and other items; Presidential conventions and funeral memorabilia; and signed first edition books.

Highlights include:

Saul Steinberg original ink caricature of Daniel Patrick Moynihan on a brown paper grocery bag, inscribed, signed and dated Steinberg DC Oct 3 ‘78”. The framed caricature fills the entire length of the bag, 11 _ x 17” (sight). Steinberg (Am., 1914-1999) is best known for his many years as an illustrator and cartoonist for the New Yorker magazine. [$400-600]

Ten autograph letters from a young Jacqueline Lee Bouvier to an older girlfriend, ‘WOODLEY’ or ‘WOODLEIGH L.', written circa 1944-1947 when Jackie was attending Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Connecticut. The undated letters are on letterhead stationery from Miss Porter’s School, The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia, her own “JBL” initialed paper and her two Auchincloss homes: Merrywood in McLean, Virginia and Hammersmith Farm, Newport, Rhode Island. Written when Jackie was between 15 and 17, they are social, chatty, gushy at times, and at other times give glimpses of a savvy assessment of people and situations. Several include humorous drawings. [$40,000-60,000]

Large group of Jacqueline Kennedy memorabilia consigned by Jackie’s personal secretary, Mary B. Gallagher, including autograph letters, notes and cards; photographs; JFK funeral condolence cards and stationery; and clothing: four dresses and one Oleg Cassini double-breasted coat. Two are evening gowns; two are classic Jackie sheaths, one by Oleg Cassini. According to Mrs. Gallagher, one evening gown, an ivory satin sheath [no size or label] was made by either Odette Lehmann, Jacqueline's dressmaker who came to her Georgetown house, or Lucinda Morman, her White House Seamstress. The other, a strapless pink Empire style chiffon dress [size 12, no label] with a gathered bodice trimmed with a satin bow was originally worn by Jacqueline Kennedy for a magazine photograph during the 1960 Presidential campaign. During the hectic weeks following the election, Jackie gave the dress to Mary to wear to the Inaugural Ball as she had no time to shop for a new dress. The bodice was altered to fit Mary by White House Seamstress, Mrs. Odette Lehmann.

Special rocking chair given by John F. Kennedy to his friend Boston Cardinal Richard J. Cushing. Over the years, Cardinal Cushing officiated at Kennedy’s wedding, met with him on many occasions and delivered the eulogy at his funeral. Cardinal Cushing considered this chair his favorite rocking chair and kept it in his private residence. The Cardinal later gave it as a gift to the order of the Daughters of St. Paul, a Boston order of sisters of which he was particularly fond. The Daughters of St. Paul kept the rocker in the convent’s Cushing Hall guest room for many years. This lot comes with two photographs of Cardinal Cushing and the notarized testimony of two sisters who were present when the Cardinal announced to the Daughters of St. Paul that he was giving them the rocking chair that JFK had given to him. [$10,000-20,000]

Rare 1963 White House Christmas card with a color reproduction of the Crèche in the East Room of the White House. Inside is a small embossed gilt Presidential Seal above the printed message: "With our wishes for a Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year" and autograph signatures of both John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy. This is one of the rarest of all presidential Christmas cards, one of 15 cited in Seeley's book, Seasons Greetings from the White House. Fifteen hundred cards were ordered with facsimile signatures and 750 ordered blank. Of those ordered blank, only 500 were actually shipped and delivered to the White House. President and Mrs. Kennedy began signing them before they left for Dallas. They had signed 30 cards, 15 of them with simple New Years greetings and 15 with this full Christmas and New Years greeting. None of the cards, printed or signed, was ever mailed and were only located in 1985. [$10,000 – 15,000]

Ronald Reagan, one-page autograph letter signed (ALS) written during the 1980 New Hampshire Primary on Holiday Inn, Manchester, New Hampshire, letterhead (undated). It reads in part: "…We are in agreement on a great many things such as the need to restore our mil. capability. That of course includes rebuilding the C. I. A. I differ with you somewhat on the draft. I believe we should first rebuild our active reserve to a million man strength, combat trained and armed with the latest weaponry. We are certainly in agreement on the need for this nation to reaffirm that we are a nation under God. We need a spiritual revival. Forgive this handwritten scrawl but I wanted you to have a reply without waiting until I get back to my office which will be some weeks for now. Best Regards Ronald Reagan". [$4000 – 5000]

John F. Kennedy's personal notebook. Hand-written by John F. Kennedy while living Georgetown during his 1958 Senatorial reelection campaign, this notebook contains 22 pages of writing, including: lists, campaign matters, and speech ideas. One speech fragment begins: We live in an age where the probabilities of protracted conflict…. if we are defeated a New Dark age will descend. Black leatherette, Trussell, 408SP, six-hole ring notebook. [$15,000-20,000]

WE THE PEOPLE. Paris: Ann Reeves and Edouard Weiss, 1987. Elephant portfolio created to honor the Bicentenary of the Constitution, the 17th of September, 1987. This massive delux folio limited edition, no. 56 of 250 copies, contains reproductions of the most famous documents of early American history and a signed and numbered lithograph triptych by Paul Jenkins printed by the workshop Clot-Bramsen and Georges. The typeface was hand-set and the leaves were printed on sheepskin-parchment [vellum] and full rag paper on an 18th century hand press. The red leather binding, embossed in gold leaf, was hand-bound by Atelier Bernard Duval and mounted with bronze medallions "Washington" [1792] and "Eagle" [1787] cast by Fonderie Meunier. A remarkable 30" x 22", this portfolio weighs 43 pounds and is cased in a custom red leather box. [$15,000-20,000]

President Reagan Inaugural Luncheon Portfolio INAUGURAL LUNCHEON IN HONOR OF THE PRESIDENT AND MRS. RONALD WILSON REAGAN AND THE VICE PRESIDENT AND MRS. GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH. Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, 1st edition, 1/50 copies, owned by Senator Claiborne Pell. Red leatherette gilt stamped with Great Seal and The Honorable Claiborne Pell and Mrs. Pell. [$1,000-2,000]

For details about the exhibition or to view the on-line catalog, visit www.hantmans.com or contact Hantman’s at (301) 770-3720 or email: hantman@hantmans.com .

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