Exceptionally uncommon group lot of Kennedy White House-era Christmas cards, engravings, and prints from the personal collection of Mary Barelli Gallagher, the secretary to Senator John F. Kennedy and then later to First Lady Jackie Kennedy.
The collection includes:
A rare color 17 x 14 print of Edward Lehman's watercolor painting of the White House's Green Room, presented to Gallagher as a Christmas gift in 1963, completed by the original white wrapping paper with embossed gold seal and ribbons. Also includes a pair of White House gifts cards with envelopes. The Lehman work was commissioned by the first lady upon completion of the estate's historic renovations.
Two color 17 x 14 prints of Lehman's watercolor painting of the White House's Red Room, both bearing facsimile signatures of the president and first lady, given out as Christmas presents to White House staff in 1962. The prints are housed in their original wrapping paper with red ribbons. Includes another set of matching and neatly folded wrapping paper, as well as exterior wrapping paper with large bow and White House presentation card.
Two Christmas cards from 1960, measuring 9.5 x 5.75 open, the front showing Senator Kennedy, his wife, and a young Caroline, with the inside of one bearing an autopen signature, “Jack Kennedy.”
An unused Christmas card from 1962, the front showing an image of Jackie Kennedy and her children seated in a sleigh being pulled by a pony across the White House lawn in winter, measuring 6.75 x 11.75 open, with inside bearing a preprinted message. Includes original White House envelope.
Six White House engravings, two measuring 5.5 x 3.5 and four measuring 7 x 5, with two of the larger engravings bearing preprinted signatures, “With best wishes, Jacqueline Kennedy.” Accompanied by a White House mailing envelope.
Three printed 4.25 x 3.5 acknowledgment cards from “Senator and Mrs. John Fitzgerald Kennedy,” sending thanks for “kind wishes and thoughtfulness on the occasion” of Caroline’s third birthday.
A gift box with Hallmark wrapping paper, 17.75 x 14.5 x 2, with Gallagher adding the contents in ballpoint and felt tip to the top cover. The annotations suggest that Gallagher stored the Christmas prints within this box.
In overall very good to fine condition, with expected wear and tear to wrapping paper. Accompanied by letters of provenance from Gallagher for the 1962 and 1963 prints, the 1960 cards, the Caroline cards, and the engravings, as well as several newspaper clippings.
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