A New York auction house is honoring late President John F. Kennedy’s 100th birthday by selling off some of his and his wife Jacqueline Kennedy’s most personal possessions, including pairs of his swimming shorts and their children’s engraved toothbrushes.
The auction, which is made up of items from the collection of Lieutenant Henry Hirschy, who served as a military aide to JFK throughout his presidency, as well as some provided by the First Lady’s former personal secretary, will take place next month, with bids starting as low as $1 but predicted to go as high as $1million.
Among the items going under the hammer are several historical gems, including one of the President’s iconic leather ‘bomber’ jackets, made to replace the worn-out one he was often spotted wearing, which was delivered to the White House shortly before his assassination on November, 1963.
Historically glamorous: A New York auction house is selling off rare personal items belonging to late President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jackie to honor his 100th birthday
Relics: Among the items going under the hammer are the silver toothbrushes of John Jr and Caroline Kennedy, which are engraved with their names
Presidential bathers: The auction also includes some of President Kennedy’s swimming shorts
Iconic: Bidders at the auction, which takes place next month, will also have a chance to scoop one of President Kennedy’s bomber jackets
Guernsey’s auction house will also give bidders the chance to get their hands on three of President Kennedy’s swim shorts, as well as one of his presidential cigars and an original rocking chair used by him and his successor President Lyndon B. Johnson.
And it’s not just JFK’s personal belongings that are set to go under the hammer in honor of the late president’s birthday.
Fans of perhaps the most adored First Lady in history will also be able to bid for some of her items, formerly owned by her personal secretary, Mary Gallagher, who wrote a best-seller book My Life with Jacqueline Kennedy.
Up for grabs is one of Ms Kennedy’s black lace mantillas, believed to be the very same one she wore to meet Pope John XXIII when she visited the Vatican in 1962, and that looks very similar to the one she used for her husband’s funeral.
The famous Cubanos: A presidential cigar with the President’s name will be up for auction with bidding starting at $1
A one-in-a-lifetime opportunity: Bidders will have a chance to own some of the First Lady’s iconic fashion pieces like one of her purses and pillbox hats
Chic like Jackie: The auction features a black lace mantilla, believed to be the same one the First Lady used to meet Pope John XXIII when she visited the Vatican
The silver toothbrushes of her children, John Jr and Caroline, engraved with their names, will be auctioned too, along with a labeled perfume bottle, one of her pillbox hats, a cheetah-printed purse, a handwritten thank-you note, and one of her belts.
Most of the treasured historical items are part of the Collection of Lieutenant Henry Hirschy, who worked at the White House during the Kennedy years. His Naval sword will surely be one of the items collectors will fight over, since it was one of two used to adorn Abraham Lincoln’s catafalque- the wooden stand that was used to hold Kennedy’s casket while it was on display in the White House’s East Room.
The First Lady personally asked for the catafalque made for the 16th President shortly after her husband’s untimely death, as she planned a funeral that matched the grandiosity of that of President Lincoln’s nearly 100 years before.
Always polite: ‘Thank you for all you did for the President and our children,’ reads a note signed by the First Lady
Smell like a First Lady: One of the items provided by Ms Kennedy’s personal secretary is a perfume bottle wrapped with the family name
A collector’s dream: Lieutenant Henry Hirschy’s Naval sword and a second sword used to adorn JFK’s casket are expected to sell for $300,000 each
Guersney’s president, Arlan Ettinger, told People that the unique swords, which are well documented, are estimated to be worth $300,000 apiece.
Among the auction’s coveted items are also the transcripts of some of the 35th President’s most famous speeches, including his address to the nation during the Cuban Missile Crisis and his ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ speech, which he made in Berlin at the height of the Cold War era.
Rare art like an original oil on canvas portrait of JFK by artist Aaron Shikler, whose full-body portrait of the President was chosen by the Kennedy family to hang in the White House for eternity, will also be auctioned, as well as original versions of a bust created by Robert Berks.
The Kennedy Powers Auction will take place on October 6th and 7th and bidding will be available via internet or phone for anyone who can’t attend.
Priceless history: Transcripts of scripts and other documents, like a letter from President Kennedy to Sir Winston Churchill are part of the auction’s catalog
A painting worthy of the White House: People will be able to bid for an original oil on canvas portrait of JFK by artist Aaron Shikler
An adored face: The auction will include several art pieces, like original versions of a bust of the the 35th President’s image created by Robert Berks