The Booming Value of Presidential & White House Memorabilia
If you are looking to auction, buy, consign or sell White House memorabilia or autographs at our White House memorabilia auction, please email [email protected] or call (310) 440-2982.
White House Memorabilia
The world of White House memorabilia continues to gain traction in the collecting universe and some big prices have been realized lately for some key pieces. Check out this previous blog post with some recent examples of White House memorabilia sold by us in our monthly auctions.
We have had an incredible cornucopia of White House memorabilia, with over 1,000+ items, each distinct — from individualized China service under various Presidents to personal letters of our country’s forefathers.
A complete list of Presidential items can be found here. But —
Here is a rundown of some of the best White House memorabilia that we have had:
China Plate From Thomas Jefferson’s White House — Very Scarce, in Near Fine Condition
Very scarce and beautiful china plate from the administration of Thomas Jefferson. Soup plate made of white Chinese porcelain is painted blue with gilt accents. Features a shallow bowl with gilt ”J” at center, inside a shield that bears a knight’s head decoration. Plate measures 9.5” in diameter, and is near fine. From the Raleigh DeGeer Amyx Collection. Excellent piece of White House memorabilia. Sold for $26,121.
China Plate From Thomas Jefferson’s White House — Very Scarce, in Near Fine Condition
George Washington Military Document Signed as Commander of the Continental Army
George Washington document signed, ”G Washington” as Commander of the Continental Army. Document discharges the soldier John Martindale, datelined Headquarters (Newburgh, NY), 8 June 1783. Countersigned by Jonathan Trumbull Jr. and H. Savage. Great autographed piece of White House memorabilia. Sold for $13,728.
George Washington Military Document Signed as Commander of the Continental Army
George Washington Presidential invitation to dinner, reading in full: ”The President of the United States requests the Pleasure of the Register of the Treasury’s [Joseph Nourse’s] company to Dine, on Thursday next at 4 o’clock / 22 October, 1792 / An answer is requested”. Rare lot of White House memorabilia.
George Washington Presidential Invitation to Joseph Nourse, 1st U.S. Register of the Treasury — Dinner Likely Concerned the Payment of Clothing for Troops in 1793
Abraham Lincoln Owned Glass Decanter
Abraham Lincoln personally owned decanter. Glass decanter features a Greek key motif and faceted stopper. With a 1948 LOA from Walter T. Dwight, whose family lived in the same Illinois neighborhood where Lincoln’s widow resided; when he was a child his father purchased the decanter at Mary Todd Lincoln’s auction of the late president’s personal effects. Accompanied by a copy of a classified ad from the 11 June 1867 edition of the “Chicago Tribune”, advertising the “Second Sale of Mrs. Lincoln’s Furniture”, held by Wm. A. Dutters & Co. Auctioneers at 375 W. Washington St. The ad specifies “cut glassware” as included in the auction. Also with a COA from University Archives. Nice piece of White House memorabilia.
Abraham Lincoln Owned Glass Decanter
Abraham Lincoln autograph letter signed as President, “A. Lincoln”. Letter addressed to George M. Weston in Augusta, Maine is datelined the Executive Mansion, 28 September 1861, entirely in Lincoln’s hand. Content reads, “My dear sir, Some time ago I told your brother if he would get Gen. Ripley to say he denies his (your brother’s) acceptance as Military Store keeper I would be inclined to appoint him. He brought in a note from Gen. Ripley saying he was competent, but in which he does not say he wishes his appointment and seemed to think he had got what I suggested – I however wrote the Sec. of War favorable to his appointment…A. Lincoln”. Excellent autographed Lincoln item of White House memorabilia.
Abraham Lincoln Autograph Letter Signed as President — Lincoln Soothes Ruffled Feathers: “…This morning your brother came to me again…and insisted that there is still another place…”
Jackie Kennedy’s Personally Owned Gold-Plated Necklace by Christian Dior
Jackie Kennedy’s personally owned necklace by Christian Dior. Necklace features six graduated strands of gold-plated square-linked chain, punctuated with 23 fluted spherical beads in faux coral. A charm near the clasp identifies it as Dior, made in Germany in 1973. Measures 19.25” from clasp to its lowermost point. Near fine. With provenance from the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis estate sale at Sotheby’s in April of 1996, lot 501. A stunning piece of jewelry by the ever fashionable First Lady. Glamorous piece of White House memorabilia.
Jackie Kennedy’s Personally Owned Gold-Plated Necklace by Christian Dior
Lee Harvey Oswald’s Killer Jack Ruby Personally Owned & Worn Trousers
Jack Ruby personally owned and worn trousers. Ruby infamously shot Lee Harvey Oswald dead in the Dallas, Texas police station where Oswald was being held as a suspect in the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Ruby’s name is hand written on one of the pockets. Ink or dye staining to the inside of the pants along the waist band and on the pockets, else near fine.
Lee Harvey Oswald’s Killer Jack Ruby Personally Owned & Worn Trousers
Includes a COA from Ruby’s brother:
COA from Ruby’s brother
Excellent 13.75” x 11” Photo of the 1963 Warren Commission — With Signatures From All Eight Members
Signed photo display of the 1963 Warren Commission, enacted by President Lyndon B. Johnson in the wake of JFK’s tragic assassination. Matte photo depicts each of the men in the commission posing at a table with a portrait of JFK hanging on the wall in the background.
Excellent 13.75” x 11” Photo of the 1963 Warren Commission — With Signatures From All Eight Members
President Lyndon B. Johnson autograph letter signed to Arthur J. Goldberg. Dated only ”Sunday”, letter was likely composed sometime between 1965-67 when Goldberg served under LBJ as United Nations Ambassador. Written on an LBJ Ranch card, letter reads, ”Dear Dorothy and Arthur – All you did in planning came out in one of the most beautiful and gay dinners we’ve attended – You were thoughtful – gracious & generous and we will always appreciate it and remember. Thanks again – Lyndon”. Rare piece of White House memorabilia as Lyndon B. Johnson handwritten letters are scarce.
Very Scarce Lyndon B. Johnson Autograph Letter Signed, Very Likely as President — ”…You were thoughtful – gracious & generous …” — Fine
John F. Kennedy worn silk neck-tie, made by A. Sulka & Company. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity signed by David J. Powers, son of Dave Powers, that reads: ”My name is Dave Powers, and my late father was David F. Powers, Special Assistant to President John F. Kennedy, and Curator at the Kennedy Library and Museum in Boston. Many consider my father to have been President Kennedy’s best friend. They campaigned together from 1946 to 1963, and traveled the world together on presidential visits from 1960 to 1963. During their travels, they frequently needed to switch from casual attire to something more formal. My father and JFK were not the same size, but that mattered little when it came to neckties…”
John F. Kennedy Neck-Tie
John F. Kennedy Personally Owned & Used Pitcher
Glass pitcher used by John F. Kennedy and his family. From the auction of Property From The Kennedy Family Homes: Hyannis Port, Martha’s Vineyard, New Jersey, New York & Virginia, held by Sotheby’s in New York from 15-17 February 2005. Part of lot 189 with original Sotheby’s sticker.
John F. Kennedy Personally Owned & Used Pitcher
President Bill Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Leader Yassir Arafat signed photo. Crisp color image of the heads of state is signed ”Bill Clinton”, ”Y. Rabin” and ”Y. Arafat” in black felt-tip upon the lower photographic border. Image was taken at the White House at the signing of the Peace Accords or, ”Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements,” on 13 September 1993. This is the only version of this White House memorabilia that I have seen.
Bill Clinton, Yassir Arafat & Yitzhak Rabin Signed 8” x 10” Photo — Scarce Signed Photo of the Middle East Peace Accords at the White House in 1993
White House used china plate from the Clinton administration. Fish entree dinner plate is part of the 3600-piece collection by Lenox of Trenton, New Jersey, the service commissioned for the 200th anniversary of the White House in the year 2000. This collection broke ground as the very first to incorporate an image of the White House itself on official china; it supplants the traditional presidential seal design on the service platter. Presidential china is very popular White House memorabilia for collectors.
Bill Clinton White House China — Entree Plate by Lenox From the Year 2000 — Part of the First Order & Used in the White House
Brilliant gold-covered service plate used in the Eisenhower White House. Plate is one of only 120 service plates commissioned by Eisenhower, the only porcelain ordered for the White House by his administration, as the Truman service had been ordered the year before Eisenhower took office and remained in use throughout his two terms. First Lady Mamie Eisenhower selected this regal pattern – translucent ivory porcelain richly decorated in gold, with the presidential seal at center encircled by fifty stars, and the rims covered in a thick border of real embossed coin gold.
Stunning Eisenhower White House Used China — 11.5” Plate by Castleton China, Inc. — Expertly Crafted With Exquisite Border Made of Pure Gold
Reagan White House Exhibit China Cup & Saucer by Lenox — Fine
Cup and saucer in the Ronald Reagan White House pattern, part of the special Exhibit edition used when presidential china is put on display. The Reagan pattern, made of translucent ivory Lenox china, features a regal border of orange-red, accented in gilt and encircled by a gilt rim and a gilt presidential seal. The Lenox White House Exhibit Collection maker’s mark is present to underside, dated 1981.
Reagan White House Exhibit China Cup & Saucer by Lenox — Fine
Woodrow Wilson White House Exhibit Collection China Cup & Saucer by Lenox — Fine
Cup and saucer in the classic Woodrow Wilson White House pattern. China is from the Exhibit Collection, a specially-issued edition used in displays at the White House and other public showcases of Presidential china. The Wilson pattern features a two-toned ivory china base and rim decorated with gilt bands and a gilt presidential seal. A tasteful and timeless design, it was reordered in the White House by Harding, Coolidge and Hoover.
Woodrow Wilson White House Exhibit Collection China Cup & Saucer by Lenox — Fine
Franklin D. Roosevelt White House Exhibit China — Dinner Plate by Lenox
Franklin D. Roosevelt White House dinner plate, part of the special Exhibit edition used when presidential china is put on display. Beautiful cream color porcelain dinner plate features a color eagle at top, surrounded by a gilt rim and a navy blue border dotted with gilt stars. The Lenox White House Exhibit Collection maker’s mark is present to the underside, with the date of 1934.
Franklin D. Roosevelt White House Exhibit China — Dinner Plate by Lenox
Franklin D. Roosevelt White House Exhibit China — Cup & Saucer by Lenox — Fine
Cup and saucer in the Franklin D. Roosevelt White House pattern, part of the special Exhibit edition used when presidential china is put on display. Ivory cup and saucer feature gilt embellishments surrounding a navy blue border dotted with stars; color presidential seals are present on the cup at 6 o’clock and on the saucer at 12 o’clock. The Lenox White House Exhibit Collection maker’s mark is present to undersides and dated 1934.
Franklin D. Roosevelt White House Exhibit China — Cup & Saucer by Lenox — Fine
Harry S. Truman White House Exhibit China — Cup & Saucer by Lenox — Fine
Cup and saucer in the Harry Truman White House pattern, part of the special Exhibit edition used when presidential china is put on display. The Truman pattern was used in the White House from Truman’s administration through the administrations of Eisenhower and Kennedy. Cup and saucer in cream color porcelain feature a border of sage green with embossed gilt bands, gilt rim and gilt handle, with a gilt presidential seal on the cup at 6 o’clock and on the saucer at 12 o’clock. The Lenox White House Exhibit Collection maker’s mark is present to the undersides and dated 1951.
Harry S. Truman White House Exhibit China — Cup & Saucer by Lenox — Fine
If you are looking to auction, buy, consign or sell White House memorabilia or autographs at our White House memorabilia auction, please email [email protected] or call (310) 440-2982.
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