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Lot #52
Harry S. Truman

'Dewey Defeats Truman'—inscribed by the president to someone "who didn't believe it either!"

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Estimate: $3000+
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Description

'Dewey Defeats Truman'—inscribed by the president to someone "who didn't believe it either!"

Iconic oversized vintage matte-finish 14 x 11 photo of Truman holding up the iconic 'Dewey Defeats Truman' issue of the Chicago Tribune, signed and inscribed in fountain pen, "To Hon. Charles V. Bay, who didn't believe it either! Harry S. Truman.” Reverse bears an Acme Newspictures credit stamp. In fine condition, with light silvering to the perimeter of the image.

When the decision to print the infamous 'Dewey Defeats Truman' paper was made, returns for the 1948 presidential election were coming in very slowly and time was running out before the Chicago Daily Tribune's deadline. The pro-Republican Tribune staff, based on the early returns, decided Dewey would be the next president. After the newspaper was delivered to the street, more returns came in and showed that Truman would be reelected. Despite their scramble to recover their mistaken papers, about 2,000 copies were unaccounted for. Showing Truman gleefully displaying the erroneous paper on his train the next morning, this is one of the most famous political photos in US history.

Auction Info

  • Auction Title: Fine Autographs and Artifacts
  • Dates: #572 - Ended December 04, 2019





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