JFK’s personal ‘victory map’ of Cuba dominates with $138k achieved
Our April Fine Autographs and Artifacts auction, with Sci-Fi feature, eclipsed expectations. The top item was President John F. Kennedy’s personal “victory map” of Cuba (banner image) used during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The historic artifact achieved a price of $138,798 (all prices shown include Buyer’s Premium).
It was not the only US president-related item to make the Top 10 auction results; two George Washington artifacts ranked – a signed letter which garnered $36,546, and his signature which yielded $8,083. Founding Fathers were strongly represented, with a Thomas Jefferson ALS that sold for $28,843, a Benjamin Franklin ALS which earned $14,822, and a DS of Alexander Hamilton, which sold for $9,782. Items representing Abraham Lincoln, John Hancock, James Garfield and FDR also did well.
Classical music composers had solid showings, with auction results including a DS from Frederic Chopin achieving $18,751 and a Giuseppe Verdi AMQS garnering $10,003. Modern music’s top seller was a fully signed, self-titled debut album from the Rolling Stones, which earned $10,003.
The top selling item from our first Sci-Fi feature was a signed vintage glossy photo for the first Star Wars film, autographed by Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford, which achieved $8,575.
Top 10 sales of the month:
John F. Kennedy ‘victory map’ of Cuba: $138,798
George Washington LS: $36,546
Thomas Jefferson ALS: $28,843
Frederic Chopin DS: $18,751
Benjamin Franklin ALS: $14,822
Giuseppe Verdi AMQS: $10,003
Rolling Stones fully signed self-titled debut album: $10,003
Alexander Hamilton DS: $9,782
Star Wars signed photograph: $8,575
George Washington signature: $8,083