Rare photographs of JFK visiting Texas the day before his assassination have gone up for sale at auction.
The colorful pictures were taken on November 21, 1963, in Houston, where President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie spent the day on a tour.
With the exception of Jackie Kennedy’s white dress, the photos look eerily similar to the infamous images beamed around the world 24 hours later in the wake of JFK being shot.
‘The birthday photos have never been seen before,’ said a spokesman for the auctioneers. ‘They show JFK celebrating his birthday with his celebrity friends. They fondly recall the Camelot era that captivated the world.’
Rarely seen photographs of JFK visiting Texas the day before his assassination have come to light 59 years later. The colorful pictures were taken on November 21, 1963, in Houston, where President JFK and his wife Jackie spent the day on a tour
The images of JFK in Houston look very similar to the images of him and Jackie in Dallas the next day, with their outfits reminiscent of the same they would wear on November 22, 1963
An auction spokesperson said: ‘All the original photos come from Cecil Stoughton’s private collection. So many are not published and possibly not seen before’
The pictures have rarely been seen before, being overshadowed by the tragic events that happened in Dallas the next day
The pictures include one of the Presidential motorcade leaving Houston Airport with JFK and Jackie sat in the exact same positions as they were the next day in Dallas
The colorful pictures were taken on November 21, 1963, in Houston, where President John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie spent the day on a tour
The pictures include one of the Presidential motorcade leaving Houston Airport with JFK and Jackie sat in the exact same positions as they were the next day in Dallas.
The president is wearing a similar dark grey suit and is seen with his head turned to his right waving at crowds of people while his Secret Service bodyguards ride on a limousine behind.
Other photos show the couple smiling as they meet and great local well-wishers and of JFK giving a speech stood as a rostrum.
The vice president, Lyndon B. Johnson, can be seen in some of the snaps. He was riding in the car behind the president’s at the time of the assassination.
The president is wearing a similar dark grey suit as he gives a speech in Houston on the day before his assassination on November 22, 1963, at the hands of Lee Harvey Oswald
Other photos show the couple smiling as they meet and great local well-wishers and of JFK giving a speech stood as a rostrum
The vice president, Lyndon B. Johnson, can be seen in some of the snaps. He was riding in the car behind the president’s at the time of the assassination
John Connally, the governor of Texas who was shot and wounded in the assassination the next day, can also be seen in the background of the photos (fourth to the right)
With the exception of Jackie Kennedy’s white dress, the photos look eerily similar to the infamous images beamed around the world 24 hours later in the wake of JFK being shot
And John Connally, the governor of Texas who was shot and wounded in the assassination the next day, can also be seen in the photos.
The 13 original photos of the Houston visit were taken by Cecil Stoughton, the official White House photographer.
The pictures have rarely been seen before, being overshadowed by the tragic events that happened in Dallas the next day.
The original prints are now being sold at auction along with other two showing the Kennedys in Dallas on November 22, 1963, shortly before the assassination.
And there are other little-known images taken by Stoughton of JFK celebrating his 45th birthday on May 29, 1962, at Madison Square Garden.
The original prints are now being sold at auction along with other two showing the Kennedys in Dallas on November 22, 1963, shortly before the assassination
The 13 original 10ins by 8ins photos of the Houston visit were taken by Cecil Stoughton, the official White House photographer
It was the same event where Marilyn Monroe seductively sang ‘Happy Birthday Mr. President’ to him.
The black and white snaps show JFK speaking with VIP guests including the singer Harry Belafonte and his wife, the opera diva Maria Callas, the actress Shirley MacLaine and the comedian Jimmy Durrante.
The photos are being sold from the personal collection of Mr Stoughton at Nate D Sanders Auctions in Los Angeles.
The spokesman added: ‘All the original photos come from Cecil Stoughton’s private collection. So many are not published and possibly not seen before.
‘The images of JFK in Houston do look very similar to the images of him and Jackie in Dallas the next day. Their outfits, the motorcade and the crowds of cheering people look the same.
The photos are expected to sell for £500 each.
The black and white snaps show JFK speaking with VIP guests including the singer Harry Belafonte and his wife, the opera diva Maria Callas, the actress Shirley MacLaine and the comedian Jimmy Durrante. It was the same event where Marilyn Monroe seductively sang ‘Happy Birthday Mr. President’ to him
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