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John F. Kennedy's Personally-Worn Sebastian Limited Suit

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:50,000.00 - 60,000.00 USD
John F. Kennedy's Personally-Worn Sebastian Limited Suit

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Auction Date:2019 Nov 06 @ 18:00 (UTC-5 : EST/CDT)
Location:15th Floor WeWork, Boston, Massachusetts, 02108, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
President John F. Kennedy's personally-owned and -worn dark navy blue suit, comprising the jacket and pants, with multiple photo matches of Kennedy wearing the suit during his presidency as outlined in the included photo matching documentation. There is a multi-angle photo match of President Kennedy wearing the suit on November 2, 1961. In addition, there is a full-color definitive multi-angle photo match of President Kennedy in the suit on June 8, 1961, during the arrival ceremonies for Fulbert Youlou, president of the Republic of the Congo, at the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) Terminal, Washington National Airport, Washington, D.C. President Kennedy then hosted a luncheon in honor of President Youlou at the White House that afternoon.

The handsome, long thin-cut suit has a "Sebastian Ltd." tag sewn into the collar, and a thin white laundry tag with "John F. Kennedy" in red sewn inside the right inner pocket; this tag is consistent with other known Kennedy garments. Several physical properties of the suit jacket were used in the photo-matching process, including: the lapel pin hole is cut at a sharp diagonal downward angle; the front cut of the suit near the bottom has an outward flair, then rounds and flattens; the comparative width of the lapel; the suit has dart marks on both sides from custom tailoring; the suit has plain buttons with a single rim, and three close-together buttons on each sleeve; the tight herringbone fabric appears as different shades of blue in different types of light; the upper left pocket has a curved 'smile' shape; the lower pockets lack flaps; and the sleeves have apparent pucker marks. The matching pants have a zippered fly with hook-and-bar closure, and are annotated inside the waistband with a blurred 1950s date.

Accompanied by a 2002 letter of provenance from a previous owner, a relative of JFK's personal valet George Thomas. In part: "The following is the history of President Kennedy's Sebastian Ltd. blue suit which I donated to the Foundation…The suit was given to me by...George Thomas in October of 1962. George was President Kennedy's personal valet. President Kennedy told George that he could dispose of it at his pleasure. He gave it to me and has remained in my possession ever since. In addition to a tailoring label in the neck of the jacket there is a John F. Kennedy label in the inside breast pocket. The label is white with red letters." Also includes a detailed, un-redacted version of the original photo-match research letter with accompanying images, and a letter from the Foundation (which chooses to remain anonymous during the auction) conveying the suit to the new owner. In very good to fine condition, with some fraying to shoulder seams and a few small moth holes, in addition to general wear from use; the "Sebastian Ltd." tag inside the collar is also loose along two edges. President Kennedy likely disposed of the suit due to the wear, presumably the result of frequent use over a long period of time.