Description:

JOHN F. KENNEDY'S SIGNED SET OF 'HISTORY OF IRELAND'
JOHN F. KENNEDY (1917-1963) Thirty-fifth President of the United States. Kennedy faced-down the Khrushchev during the Cuban Missile Crisis, re-invigorated NASA, and signed the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Assassinated November 1963 by Lee Harvey Oswald. KENNEDY'S PERSONAL SET OF THE 'HISTORY OF IRELAND' - SIX SIGNED VOLUMES. Offered here is a fabulous set of six half-volumes, the complete set of 'History of Ireland' (London: Gresham Publishing Co.), 1912. Varying page numbers, 4to., green cloth boards with decorative gilt titles and Celtic designs on the covers and spines, all owned and bearing full early ownership signatures by Kennedy. Five volumes have been signed by Kennedy on the first flyleaf at the top, while volume six is signed on the last page (disbound). Each volume also contains colored frontispieces depicting various images related to Irish history. These books were authored by Rev. Edward Alfred D' Alton, ordained as a Catholic priest in 1887 and who served in several parishes before eventually becoming dean and vicar-general of the Archdiocese of Tuam in 1930. Next to his religious faith D' Alton was also a dedicated historian best known for the publication 'History of Ireland', published in three multi-volume editions between 1903 and 1925. These books must have held a fascination for Kennedy as he was the United States' first Irish-Catholic president, and one volume mentions his surname directly: 'Brian Boru was of the family of Cormac Cas. His father was Kennedy, son of Lorcan. He was slain in battle with the Danes (951). At his death Brian was but a lad of ten years.'. Research tells us Boru would go on to become the High King of Ireland from 1002-1014. We can imagine the pride Kennedy must have felt upon learning of his heritage, although, it may have been less so when acquiring the knowledge that Kennedy or 'Cennetig' meant 'Ugly Head'. The president cherished his Irish heritage, taking his oath as president at his 1961 inauguration on a large family Bible brought directly from Ireland by his ancestors. Kennedy visited Ireland in 1963 to see the Kennedy homestead in County Wexford. At New Ross he stated to his audience: 'When my great grandfather left here to become a cooper in East Boston, he carried nothing with him except two things: a strong religious faith and a strong desire for Liberty. I am glad to say that all of his great grandchildren have valued that inheritance'. The Fitzgerald and Kennedy families both migrated to America in the mid-nineteenth century to escape the disastrous potato famine in search of a better life, like so many others. Both families found themselves living and working in Boston facing the ever-present discrimination against Irish-Catholic immigrants. It seems politics was in the blood of his family as both Kennedy's grandfathers had become successful Boston politicians by the end of the nineteenth century, with one serving twice as Mayor of Boston and as a member of Congress. The books are in generally very good condition with some light wear to the covers, bumped spine edges and corners (volume six with a cracked spine), and some light toning and foxing throughout internal pages. Each book is accompanied by a 'JSA' letter of authenticity. We can't imagine a set of history books (or any books at all) that would have been more important to the late president.

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August 16, 2024 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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