Description:

JOHN F. KENNEDY
(1917-1963) Thirty-fifth President of the United States. Kennedy faced-down the Kruschev during the Cuban Missile Crisis, re-invigorated NASA, and signed the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty. Assassinated November 1963 by Lee Harvey Oswald. Excessively rare, signed first-edition copy of his book: 'As We Remember Joe' (Cambridge: University Press), 1945. 75pp. 8vo. in brick red boards with gilt titles. This collection of twenty essays was compiled by the future President memorializing his eldest brother, Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., who won the Naval Cross and was killed in action during World War II. Uniquely, on the front flyleaf, Kennedy pens a dedication to a Combat Aerial Gunner within Joe's squadron, William F. Holzapfel, Jr, writing in full: 'For Bill, who flew with Joe from Jack Kennedy'. Sold with a typescript excerpt from a letter written by Holzapfel a few years after Kennedy's assassination, which reads: '...I knew Joe well. He was a good officer and friend...Jack Kennedy (the late president) had heard of me after the war when he was campaigning for Congress. He invited me to his rooms at the Hotel Belleview in Boston...I went gladly, bringing with me photos of our place overseas, (Dunkswell) plus aerial photos of our Wing... He accepted these with tears in his eyes and presented me with the book 'As We Remember Joe'. An odd event occurred then: he was so upset about me bringing the pictures he first autographed the book on the 'back cover' then realizing his error he erased this and then on the front cover inscribed 'to Bill who flew with Joe', Jack Kennedy...' This largely erased signature is present on the last page, as mentioned. A crease runs through the inscription on the front flyleaf, else very good condition. Sold with slipcase. This privately-printed book was produced and distributed only for Joe's family and friends, thus only 390 first-edition copies were ever created. Issues also bearing such a soulful dedication from Kennedy, especially towards one of Joe's fellow soldiers, are near impossible to find.

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August 26, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
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$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 + $10,000