President Roosevelt’s personally-owned and -used fine quality brown leather matchbook, measuring 2 x 2.25 closed, featuring his gilt-embossed initials on the front flap, “FDR.” The matchbook is fully stocked with 15 matches and features a small black fastener at the bottom, allowing the matches to be replaced—a function of FDR’s valet. In excellent condition. Includes a photocopy of the original detailed letter of provenance on White House letterhead from the wife of Arthur S. Prettyman, who had served as Roosevelt’s valet from 1939 until his death in 1945, and continued to work for President Truman, as his personal valet, until he left office, in 1953. In brief part: "President Roosevelt once said of his Valet, 'You are my lifeline, the keeper of my keys'…the keys to FDR's secrets," and, in part: "It gives me pleasure to present to you one of the leather matchbook covers that was owned and used by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It was given to my husband, Arthur S. Prettyman sometime during World War II, by the President…The personal matches of the President have 1/2 inch FDR initials embossed in gold on the leather cover…This personal matchbook cover is most attractive." A cogent piece of FDR history—a necessity for the lifelong cigarette smoker. The Raleigh DeGeer Amyx Collection.
