4642 JOHN F KENNEDY PRESENTATION AUTOGRAPHED LARGE

Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 1,000.00 USD
Estimated at 2,000.00 - 4,000.00 USD
FORMAT PHOTOGRAPH, PART OF GROUPING FROM MAJ. GEN. WM. H. ABENDROTH. William H. Abendroth (1895-1970) had a very long military career starting with Idaho National Guard and the hunt for Pancho Villa, 1915 and later service in France in World War I. During WWII, Abendroth was General Douglas McArthur’s personal Provost Marshall. He attended the US War College at Ft. Leavenworth and became friends with Dwight Eisenhower who also attended just after the war, 1946. General Abendroth served in Washington, DC as Commander of the District of Columbia National Guard during both the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations. Both presented him with signed photographs. John F Kennedy's personally presented and signed photographs are rare. He obviously wrote this one in person in his awful handwriting, which is hard to decipher holography. It is massive on 18" x 14" board with 13" x 10.5" silver print photo attached, presentation appears to read: "To Major General William Abendroth / with my good wishes / John F Kennedy /January 19, '61 USA" which is day before his inauguration as president. The 14" x 10" color image of Eisenhower is signed on collar "To General Abendroth / with best wishes / Dwight D Eisenhower". The 8" x 10" photo of Abendroth in Major General uniform is signed "Maj. Gen. W. H. Abendroth". Abendroth was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal, he is buried in Arlington Cemetery. Also in this lot is a pair of official 1957 presidential inaugural license plates with vignettes of Eisenhower & Nixon, registered to General Abendroth. CONDITION: good overall, the three framed photographs all have some minor light fading, but good contrast and strong dark ink on both the Kennedy and Eisenhower photographs. PROVENANCE: consigned by Wes Abendroth, General Abendroth's son. (02-22284/JS). $2,000-4,000.