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John F. Kennedy. Two Checks Issued While President, One Signed. ...
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$11,875.00
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Description
"Our Cuban friends thought this was a big joke..."
JFK Canceled Check Signed as President
John F. Kennedy. Two Checks Issued While President, One
Signed. A check for $150 issued to "Salon Francais" of
Palm Beach, Florida from "National City Bank...Times Square
Branch", signed "John F. Kennedy" and dated December 24,
1962. Measuring 3.25 x 8.25 inches (86 x 212 mm). With a partially
printed note from the First National City Bank stating the check is
being returned for an "illegible signature" stapled to the
check in the upper left corner.Evidentially, there was some back and forth regarding the validity of the check, as there are a series of overlapping black, purple, and pink ink stamps forwarding the check to appropriate parties and marking it as "Canceled" on no less than three dates: January 14, 15, and 16, 1963.
[Together with:] President Kennedy's Replacement Check. Imprinted pink check with "John F. Kennedy" printed in the left margin, no. 3965, measuring 3.25 x 8.5 inches (84 x 213 mm) and back-dated December 24, 1962. However, the bank ultimately honored the initial payment and this counter-check has been mark "Void" in blue ink by Evelyn Lincoln, President Kennedy's personal secretary, with his signature neatly clipped out.
In the time between the writing of these two checks, a somewhat amusing series of events ensued. Salon Francais was a popular shop in the Cuban community of Palm Beach owned by three sisters; listed alternatively as a "dressmaking" business and "couture house" in newspaper articles of the time, the sisters were reportedly highly regarded in their community and it seems the shop was something of a social location as well.
Amused by the irony of a President's check bouncing, the gossip traveled fast. Just two days after the initial check was canceled and returned, the branch manager of the Bank of Palm Beach and Trust Company sent the typed letter and receipt of payment included with this lot, informing the President that the error with the check had been rectified and the payment honored, though not before "Our Cuban friends thought this was a big joke and were doing a little, what they consider, innocent talking." Smith assures that he "...took care of this matter so as to put a stop to unnecessary and idle chatter" and adds a rather off-color post-script in blue ink "If anything is going to bounce on the Cuban sisters, it should not be a check!!"
[With:] A Letter of Authenticity Signed by Evelyn Lincoln, Personal Secretary to President Kennedy. Issued on White House Stationary, 9.25 x 6.25 inches (234 x 159 mm) and dated September 15, 1989. Mrs. Lincoln amassed a large collection of ephemera from the Kennedy-era while serving as the President's personal secretary; later in life she became close friends with Robert L. White, a highly-acclaimed Kennedy collector, whom she named the executor of her estate and willed a significant portion of her collection to.
Condition: Three fading purple circular ink stamps to the recto. Numerous overlapping ink stamps on the verso, in pink, black, and purple ink, showing through to the recto. Counter-check with small ink notation and staple to the bottom margin. Bank letter and receipt lightly creased and with several small punctures from previous staples.
Auction Info
2022 December 1 Historical Platinum Session Signature® Auction #6267 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2022
1st
Thursday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 6
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
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