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Jacqueline Kennedy: An Archive of Early ALSs Jacqueline Kennedy: An Amazing Archive of Previously Un

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:35,000.00 - 40,000.00 USD
Jacqueline Kennedy: An Archive of Early ALSs Jacqueline Kennedy: An Amazing Archive of Previously Un
<B>Jacqueline Kennedy: An Amazing Archive of Previously Unseen Autograph Letters Signed, Written Between the Ages of 15 and 17</B></I> <BR><BR><B>Letters of "the American Queen" ... as a princess. In 10 letters on 60pp an amazing glimpse of Jacqueline Bouvier between the ages of 15 and 17. The letters are a never-before-seen snapshot of the future First Lady and number one mistress of Camelot. Included in the letters is marvelous artwork of dress designs.</B></I> <BR><BR>The wife of President John Kennedy, her interest in the arts inspired national attention to culture and she made the White House an historical museum. She demonstrated great courage after President Kennedy's assassination. After the death of her second husband, the wealthy Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, she became a book editor for Doubleday. <BR><BR>Ten autograph letters from a young Jacqueline Lee Bouvier to an older girlfriend, 'WOODLEY' or 'WOODLEIGH L.', written circa 1944-1947 when Jackie was attending Miss Porter's School in Farmington, Connecticut. The undated letters are on letterhead stationery from Miss Porter's School, The Homestead in Hot Springs, Virginia, her own "JBL" initialed paper and her two Auchincloss homes: Merrywood in McLean, Virginia and Hammersmith Farm, Newport, Rhode Island. Written when Jackie was between 15 and 17, they are social, chatty, gushy at times, and at other times give glimpses of a savvy assessment of people and situations. There are many references to her step-brother, Yusha [Hugh Auchincloss], who was at Groton, and mutual friends including Bev Corbin, Ken Merritt, Peter Voght, Steve Spencer, and many others, mostly referred to by first name. Flirting with, thinking about, boys, going to New York to the Maisonette [at the St. Regis], dancing at La Rue, football games and parties are all a sophisticated teenager's whirl outside of serious study in school. All are signed with varying affections [lots of love, all my love, etc.] and "Jackie". Since none of the letters are dated, there is no way to put them in chronological order. <BR><BR>Jackie's handwriting is clear; her spelling varies for names [Woodley or Woodleigh]; she often doesn't use apostrophes in words [cant for can't] and often uses dashes [—] instead of periods. The letters as quoted use Jackie's spelling as it appears. Most people are mentioned by first names or nicknames, rarely is there a last name attached, some names can be detected from other written sources, such as <I>America's Queen</B></I> by Sarah Bradford (New York: Viking, 2000). Letters from this period of Jackie's life to Yusha are housed in the Kennedy Museum and Library and are closed to the public. The archive also contains a copy of a letter sent to Sotheby's by Caroline Kennedy requesting the letters not be sold. In part Caroline's letter reads, "I have read the letters, and they certainly capture her lively intelligence and sense of humor. They also reveal the kinds of thoughts and experiences typical of a time of life that one shares with a close friend ... In a life that was scrutinized so carefully, she considered her letters to be the one place where she could express herself freely, and in confidence." <BR><BR>Letter 1: 2 pages, ALS, beige paper with Hammersmith Farm, Newport, Rhode Island letterhead. This appears to be an early letter, girlishly a little silly, with approximately half page line drawing of her friend, Woodley and Woodley's guy "crush". Written while on a train, the handwriting is a bit shaky. Jackie writes: "Golly -Woodley-It makes me be sick to think how dreary this summer would have been without you-when I came here I was petrified of everything + pretty shy + not liking a bit the idea of going around with a lot of girls who were shallow + nothing but flirts — and talking about nothing but boys— It was so nice to find you because when I got sick of that I could talk to you which was more fun anyway...." Half of page 2 are drawings of Woodley and Ken Merritt with caption: "10 Years from Now A Toast on their 1st Anniversary" ["Ah Ken my love orange juice did bringeth us together"]; beneath is a drawing of two babies named Little Orange Blossom and Little Orange Peel, final caption: "50 Years from now-Notice the oranges I so thoughtfully put on your graves", drawing features two tombstones, one with "W. Merritt: her soul was an orange in disguise", other "K. Merritt: he loved his orange juice". She ends with a p.s. on the front "I don't have any more room on the back so goodbye + write me soon— Lots of Love Jackie". <BR><BR>Letter 2: 4 pages, ALS, beige paper with a black crest: MPS [Miss Porter's School]. This appears to be an early letter, with some pencil corrections, with Jackie beginning "AT LAST I got a letter from you! I swooned with joy + surprise..." and ending "... I want so badly for us to be friends for years + years because it's wonderful to have someone like you to talk to + think with + write to..." Signed "Lots of Love Jackie xxxxx". Most of this letter consists of Jackie giving Woodley advice on boys: "I know you wont pay any attention to this + you'll probably think it's silly-but I think you should get over just wanting every one for a friend. If boys know you are like that - automatically they will shy away from you. That isn't the only reason. You think you just want them for a friend but it's really that you dont like them enough to have them for anything else. Dont tell them you want them just as a friend. Say you dont like them as much as they like you. It's much better that way Woodley + it's much truer because you cant fall in love with everyone...." <BR><BR>Letter 3: 6 pages, ALS, beige paper with letterhead: The Homestead, Hot Springs, Virginia, and envelope. When Woodley is moving to England Jackie writes: "You are the only girl who's written me + we really have things to say to each other + when I think of tagging around with Rosie + Tanya who just giggle + are snippy + mean + sort of dumb— I don't want you to go at ALL..." Jackie also writes: "Do write just a postcard + tell me what your address will be in Engl.... I envy you in a way-because you are going to something new— + therefore exciting... You know so much more about things than I do - You lived so much more-traveling I guess + living with sophisticated people instead of homey little folks like mine!... I don't really know how to say it-but I'm so grateful for the couple of years I've known you because it's been the most wonderful friendship ever— + I'll always remember it— + I don't want to end it at all." Signed "Love Jackie". Together With an envelope with the Homestead address, blank on front and written on back: "One envelope is transparent so I used 2". <BR><BR>Letter 4: 4 pages, ALS, light blue paper with letterhead: Miss Porter's School, Farmington, Connecticut. Jackie's letter begins: "I just cant stand being back here in prison and when I think of that wonderful time I had with you my last night it just makes it worse-.... I wish I could have seen y