President Roosevelt’s personally-owned and -worn black silk neck tie with thin white stripes, made by Lord & Taylor, measuring 47″ long. A small white tag is sewn inside the collar area and embroidered in red with the president’s name, “F. D. Roosevelt,” and the Lord & Taylor tag is sewn to the narrow end. Various portions of the white thread have faded to black. Includes an important letter of provenance on a White House card from the wife of Irineo Esperancilla, formerly chief steward of the Navy. In full: “The Black Tie with horizontal stripes was owned and worn by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. My husband, Irineo Esperancilla, served our President from 1927–1955. During WWII he was one of F. D. R.’s valets.” Esperancilla assisted primary valet Arthur Prettyman when it became necessary for FDR to have two valets due to his health issues. Accompanied by a photo of FDR wearing this style of tie and a photocopy of the letter sent by Edward Beach to Irineo Esperancilla, offering good wishes upon his retirement from the Navy.
