Wonderful group lot of six original color glossy 3.5 x 2.5 candid photographs of President John F. Kennedy at Carswell Air Force Base, located northwest of Fort Worth, Texas, moments before his fateful departure to Dallas Love Field on November 22, 1963; less than an hour after landing, Kennedy was shot and killed as his presidential motorcade made its way through Dealey Plaza. The photos include two images of Kennedy and his wife, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, pictured in her famous pink Chanel suit, walking side-by-side across the airport tarmac; and four close-up images of Kennedy in high spirits, shaking hands with well-wishers prior to his departure. The reverse of each photo bears “A Kodak Paper” watermarks. In overall fine condition. Accompanied by a handwritten letter from the photographer, dated November 28, 1963, less than a week after the assassination. It reads, in part: “What do you think of the incident in Dallas last Friday? Sure is shocking. Ellen & I had just seen him here at the base about 11:15. We shook hands & took his picture. Ellen’s mother & father along with Ellen came up to the base Thursday night when he came in but couldn’t get anywhere to get a good look at him. I was working 3-11 so I missed out. But I made up the next day.” An exceptional lot of rare unpublished photos of Kennedy on the last day of his life; given the tragic events soon to unfold, Kennedy’s calm and contented visage makes this lot all the more somber and impactful.
