Seven hardcover biographies from Jacqueline Kennedy's personal library, several of which are signed and inscribed to her by the author or gift-giver. Includes:
Uneasy Lies the Head by King Hussein of Jordan, hardcover with dust jacket, signed and inscribed on the half-title page in blue ink, "With my respect and highest esteem to Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy, Hussein, New York, April 24, 1964." With Sotheby's "The Estate of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis" bookplate affixed to front pastedown.
Hassan II, King of Morocco by Rom Landau, hardcover with dust jacket, signed and inscribed on the first free end page in blue ballpoint, "For Mrs. John F. Kennedy, with the author's profound respect and great admiration, Rom Landau, February 1964." Bookplates absent.
David: Biografia de un Rey by Juan Bosch, hardcover, signed and inscribed on the half-title page in fountain pen, "A la gentil Primera Donna de los Estados Unidos, Señora Jacqueline Kennedy, con los saluds, Juan Bosch, Santo Domingo, 8 de mayo de 1963." With the personal bookplate of "Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy" affixed to the first free end page, and her name, "Jacqueline Kennedy'" gilt-stamped on the front board.
The Last Tsar: The Life and Death of Nicholas II by Edvard Radzinsky, hardcover with dust jacket, signed and inscribed on the half-title page in blue ballpoint, "To dear Jackie, who gave this book life—your friend, Edvard Radzinsky, 2 July 1992." With Sotheby's "The Estate of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis" bookplate affixed to front pastedown. Kennedy served as associate editor for this book while at Doubleday, hence the warm inscription from Radzinsky.
A Royal Recluse: Memories of Ludwig II of Bavaria, by Werner Bertram, hardcover with dust jacket, childishly inscribed in pencil in an unknown hand. With Sotheby's "The Estate of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis" bookplate affixed to front pastedown.
Queen Victoria: Leaves from a Journal, hardcover with dust jacket, signed and inscribed on the first free end page in blue ballpoint by a friend, "To Jackie, with admiration! & Love!! Molly." Bookplates absent.
Lorenzo de Medici, by E. Armstrong, hardcover, unsigned and with bookplates absent (but retaining adhesive residue).
In overall very good to fine condition. Provenance: Lot #894, The Estate of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Sotheby's, April 23-26, 1996. Accompanied by the original auction catalog with addenda, bidder paddles and forms, and invoice, which indicates that this lot sold for $9,775.
Jacqueline Kennedy's love of books was well known, and in September 1975, six months from the death of her second husband, Aristotle Onassis, she reentered the workforce for the first time since 1953. The 46-year-old former first lady had been given a consulting editor position at Viking Press earning $200 a week. However, when Viking opted to publish the Jeffrey Archer novel Shall We Tell the President?, which featured a plot about an assassination attempt on Ted Kennedy, Jackie resigned and took the job of associate editor at Doubleday, a company she would remain with for the rest of her professional career. As a group of historical biographies from Jackie's personal collection, these wonderful books connect one of her passions—reading—with her place in history.
