President Taft’s personally-owned white china plate depicting his sprawling summer home in Beverly, Massachusetts, measuring 7.25″ in diameter, with a worn gilt rim. The plate bears the manufacturer’s stamp on the bottom, “Carnation McNicol.” Includes a detailed letter of provenance on White House letterhead from Lillian Rogers Parks, who was a best selling author as well as housekeeper and seamstress at the White House for over 30 years, from President Hoover through President Eisenhower. In part: “This plate was owned by President William Howard Taft and Mrs. Nellie Taft…It depicts the summer home of President Taft in Beverly, Massachusetts. It is blue on a white background…President Taft gave this plate to mama saying, ‘I already know what my house looks like Maggie, would you like to have this?’ My mama, Maggie Rogers, accepted with sincere pleasure…I trust that this plate which belonged to the Tafts while they lived in the White House will be preserved for future generations.”
