Move over Neiman Marcus. When it comes to crazy presents, Nate D. Sanders Auctions has one-upped the retailer’s famous “Christmas Book” just in time for Santa’s delivery.
The Los Angeles-based auction house is selling a wooden rocking chair used by Presidents John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and Dwight D. Eisenhower on December 17. The starting price is $70,000.
The auctioneer told Secrets that the chair is a deal:
“The solid oak rocking chair features horizontal slats on the back of the chair; the design is simple, unembellished and masculine. It was manufactured by the Grand Rapids Bookcase and Chair Company and features a brown Naugahyde seat. President Johnson gifted the chair to George Z. Szabo, who served as White House staff photographer from 1956-1980. The chair comes with a letter of authenticity from Szabo. President Kennedy’s rocking chairs have commanded as much as $500,000 in previous auctions.”
Sanders is also offering another JFK relic, his signed Senate ID which came from his personal assistant Evelyn Lincoln.
“The card has a youthful photo of Jack Kennedy on the front. The back features the Senate logo and the printed signature of Joseph C. Duke, Sergeant- at-Arms for the U.S. Senate. Kennedy carried the ID card in his wallet while serving as the junior senator representing Massachusetts from 1953-1960.”
Bidding for the identification card begins at $25,000.
A separate lot offers one of JFK’s Senate business cards and the business card case monogrammed in gold embossed letters. The card and card case also come from Evelyn Lincoln. Bidding begins at $12,500.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
