Fascinating collection of pre-production mock-up materials used in the creation of John and Jacqueline Kennedy's Hallmark Christmas card prints from 1961 and 1962. Includes:
1961: four matte-finish black-and-white photographs of Cecil Stoughton's portrait of the White House with Caroline’s ducklings swimming in the front lawn's fountain, with varying folders ranging in size from 16 x 13.75 to 19.5 x 16.5. One folder is printed with "Season's Greetings," and another features two variations of a stamped presidential seal. Also included is a paper with several test pressings of the blindstamped presidential seal, a couple production-related notes, and a photocopy of Jacqueline Kennedy's letter describing her desired design.
1962: two matte-finish black-and-white photographic reproductions of Edward H. Lehman's painting of the White House Red Room, one mounted inside its red 17 x 14 presentation folder with presidential seal on the front, the other detached from its mount. Both mounts bear pencil tracings of a sentiment and signatures of the president and first lady, accomplished in an unknown hand, possibly made using a projection of a printed facsimile transparency that is included. Also includes a color print of the Lehman painting inside its red presentation folder (lacking the facsimile signatures), a color photograph of the setup, and an example of the gold foil seal and ribbon to be used on the envelope.
In overall very good to fine condition, with most photographs detached from mounts and toned adhesive. Provenance: from the estate of General Chester V. Clifton, military aide to JFK, who was evidently the point-person at the White House for Hallmark's creation of these oversized Christmas cards.
