Sold For $1,709
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Scarce vintage matte-finish 9 x 7.25 photo of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt relaxing at a patio table, an image originally taken on the south porch at Hyde Park on July 4, 1941, signed in fountain pen as president, "Franklin D. Roosevelt," and as first lady, "Eleanor Roosevelt," with "Christmas 1941" added in calligraphy below. Framed to an overall size of 11.5 x 9.5. In fine condition, with trimmed edges; Eleanor's autograph remains much bolder than typically seen on these Christmas gifts. Consignor notes that this originates from the estate of Donald T. Birdzell, one of three White House police officers shot by Puerto Rican nationalists at Blair House in 1950 during an attempt on the life of President Harry S. Truman. Birdzell worked as a guard at the White House from 1939 to 1959.
This scarce format, highlighted in Mary Evans Seeley's book Season's Greetings from the White House, represents the first time a president and first lady personally hand-signed official White House Christmas gifts for the executive staff. Their historic gesture took place during the 1941 holiday season, just weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor and America's entry into World War II. Notably, most surviving examples of these signed presidential Christmas gift prints exhibit a severely faded, nearly illegible signature from Eleanor Roosevelt, as the ink she used did not withstand the test of time. This particular example stands out as one of the finest known dual-signed pieces extant.
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