President Eisenhower’s exceptional personally-owned and -used Bausch & Lomb 7 x 35 binoculars and brown leather case. The metal body is painted by the manufacturer dark brown and the binoculars’ grips are wrapped in a fine light brown leather, with the eyepiece on the left side engraved, “Dwight D. Eisenhower, President of the United States,” and the right side engraved, “Bausch & Lomb Centennial, 1853–1953.” The front cylinder is also stamped with serial number XG4299. Some of the paint is chipped from use and one plastic eyecup is absent, but the binoculars seem to be in overall fine condition and functional. The impressive leather carrying case matches the leather used on the binoculars, and is earnestly gilt embossed with the Bausch & Lomb logo on the bottom and the president’s full name on the top cover, “Dwight D. Eisenhower.” Includes a letter of provenance on a White House card from Delores Moaney, wife of Sgt. John Moaney, who served as Eisenhower’s valet beginning in 1942. Both Dolores and John Moaney lived with the Eisenhower family at their Gettysburg residence until the deaths of the General and Mrs. Eisenhower. In part: “The gold embossed binoculars were owned and used by President Dwight Eisenhower during the White House years as well as in retirement. The President gave them to his valet, Sgt. John Moaney, shortly before he died on 3/28/69.” Accompanied by a photo of Mrs. Moaney holding the binoculars, while she also wears Eisenhower’s Rolex on her wrist. Also accompanied by a photocopy of an internal Bausch & Lomb corporate memo and a photocopy of a letter written by President Eisenhower to Bausch & Lomb, which have been graciously provided by the Bausch & Lomb Corporate Archive. The photocopied memo is headed "Centennial Binoculars Have Been Presented to the Following," and goes on to list 14 recipients of these specially prepared binoculars, including President Eisenhower, Governor Thomas E. Dewey, members of Congress, scientists, and editors of prominent publications. The photocopied letter from Dwight D. Eisenhower reads, in part: "I am happy to salute the Bausch & Lomb Optical Company on the occasion of its one hundredth anniversary. In all the wars tragically forced upon our Nation in this century, the singular skill of your company has served the armed forces of America. From optical gunfire control to aerial mapping equipment, you have filled the needs of our fighters." Considering that Bausch & Lomb still retains the above mentioned correspondence in their permanent files attests to the importance of this pair. A very handsome offering of American-made binoculars particularly appropriate for the general-turned-president.
