ANS, signed “Jackie,” on the front panel of a printed invitation/program for the inauguration of the JFK memorial at Runnymede, England, 5 x 7.5, 1965. The event in question, which took place on May 14, 1965 and was attended by various members of the Kennedy family, the British royal family, and other dignitaries, was one of the very few “official” public events in which Jackie participated in the wake of JFK’s assassination. The note is written to “Provy”—Dominican-born Providenzia Paredes, Jackie Kennedy’s personal maid/assistant from the late 1950s. Paredes, who became one of the most trusted and beloved members of the First Lady’s inner circle, later worked for both Robert Kennedy and Edward Kennedy and was willed $50,000 upon Jackie’s death in 1994. Jackie writes, in full: “Thank you for coming—for the last thing that we all do together for President Kennedy. Love….” The item is hinged to the front blank of the 1965 book The John F. Kennedy Memorial at Runnymede. This scarce, handsome, red-leather-bound book, privately printed for Jackie in a limited edition of 100 copies, contains the texts of the dedicatory remarks made by (former) Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, Prime Minister Harold Wilson, Queen Elizabeth, and JFK’s secretary of state, Dean Rusk. (Jackie later wrote to Macmillan that his speech had been the most emotionally difficult part of the ceremony: “For everyone else Jack has reced and it was a beautiful memorial—but he has not receded for you or for me....”) The book, which measures 8 x 10.75, is gilt-stamped with Paredes’s initials on the front cover and is housed in a custom gilt-stamped, full-leather clamshell box. Accompanied by a 2003 certificate of authenticity signed by Paredes, related newspaper clippings, and several unsigned original documents and items related to the event, including Paredes’s original admission pass, another copy of the program, and the schedules and maps issued to Paredes by the American Embassy in London. Hinging to signed item as noted, a touch of subtle rubbing to covers of book, and a few minor marginal stains to interior, otherwise fine, clean condition. A most remarkable relic with a provenance of very special significance! Auction LOA John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and R&R COA.
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