Early signed book: As We Remember Joe. Privately printed. Cambridge, Massachusetts: University Press, 1945. Hardcover with protected custom-made Morocco leather and blue cloth slipcase, 6.25 x 9.25, 75 pages. Signed and inscribed in fountain pen on the first free end page, “For Dave and Mrs. Derginan, two old friends of Joe from Jack Kennedy.” Autographic condition: a mild rectangular block of toning over signature and inscription, as well as a bit of mild foxing over a couple words of inscription, otherwise fine. Book condition: VG+/None. Burgundy cloth-covered boards with gilt titles; minor rubbing at corners and discoloration to endpapers from publisher’s glue, otherwise NF condition. In a beautiful custom-made, blue cloth-covered, two-piece slipcase; interior lined with marbled paper; spine done in navy leather with five raised bands, a red leather title-piece, and gilt lettering; in NF condition. With very few privately printed, this volume contains the reminiscences of family and friends of Joseph P Kennedy, Jr. JFK had this rare volume prepared as a 1945 Christmas gift for his immediate family and friend’s of his elder brother. A highly sought-after first edition, this book was limited to just 250 copies. As with all first editions of this extremely rare book, the title page is entirely in black and the pilots wings below the title are in red. Very few examples of this rare signed work with Kennedy’s early signature have been auctioned since 1980. RR Auction COA.
