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Signed book: Profiles in Courage. Later printing. NY: Harper & Brothers, 1956. Hardcover, 6 x 8.5, 266 pages. Signed and inscribed on the first free end page in black ink, "To Joe DeSilva – with best wishes, John Kennedy." Autographic condition: fine. Book condition: CG-/None, with an easily repairable split to the spine cloth.
Accompanied by a TLS from Robert F. Kennedy signed “Bob,” one page, 8 x 10.5, United States Senate letterhead, December 28. 1956, addressed to Joseph T. DeSilva, the secretary treasurer of the Retail Clerk Union, Local 770, in full: “Thank you for your letter and the material you enclosed which I found most interesting. You have had a fine career of which you should be very proud. I plan to see your people here in Washington either today or the beginning of next week. I hope I shall have the opportunity of seeing you again when I return to the West Coast.” Kennedy adds the postscript: “I have made arrangements with my brother to have him send you his book which I hope you find interesting.” The letter is in very good to fine condition, with file holes to the top, and scattered small tape stains.
Kennedy underwent several life-threatening spinal operations in the 1950s. During his convalescence in 1954 and 1955, he wrote the book Profiles in Courage, which described eight instances in which U.S. senators risked their careers by standing up for their personal beliefs. It became a bestseller upon its release in 1956 and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Biography in 1957.
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