John F. Kennedy's 1931 French textbook: "The New Chardenal," signed in ink by Jack Kennedy and by his older brother Joe Kennedy. Used by JFK as a 14 year old in his first year at Choate, with an incredible 77 partial and full signatures by JFK, with many variations, doodles, and homework assignments. Clever statements on the front and back pages from JFK warn against stealing his book, stating in pencil below Choate’s address, “This book is not an orphan, do not adopt it.”
Handwritten highlights include Jack Kennedy's French interrogatives in his handwriting, 77 partial and full signatures by JFK (including a full "John Francis Fitzgerald Kennedy" on page 267, probably the only such signature extant), JFK's drawing of “Le Pantheon A Paris,” Kennedy writing his name and family address (Kennedy John F., 294 Pondfield Rd, Bronxville, NY"), one of the earliest extant drawings from JFK's vivid imagination at 14 years of age: a smiling and happy face in the sky above La Porte St. Denis in his textbook, his signature 12 times on one page alone, and another witty warning: "Jack Kennedy, Choate House, Room 101, Choate, Drop this book!! This book is not an orphan, do not adopt it."
A truly remarkable and historically significant artifact shining a light on many different aspects of JFK's developing mind and personality as a 14 year old teenager.
