Kennedy’s Love Letter Fetches $89,000 at RR Auction

RR Auction has developed a reputation for record-setting prices for its autographs and artifacts sold at auction, and once again the Boston-based auction house has surprised everyone with an unexpected high bid on a famous lot.

On June 23^rd, RR Auction wrapped up an online “Pop Culture” auction. The most attention-grabbing artifact at this auction was a four-page love letter handwritten by John F. Kennedy to a mistress, most likely the American painter and long-time Kennedy family friend Mary Pinchot Meyer.

Once again, Kennedy has proved endlessly fascinating to the American public.

The New York Post reports that the letter sold at auction for almost $89,000, triple the ultimate price that was expected for the rare love letter. After authentication and evaluation from in-house and third party experts, RR Auction had estimated the item’s worth to be about $30,000. In the end, Kennedy’s love letter proved to be even more valuable and desired than expected.

The official White House letterhead had been removed on the letter, however the presidential seal remained visible on the stationary. The contents show Kennedy pining for Meyer to meet with him, as he writes, “Why don’t you leave suburbia for once --- come and see me --- either here --- or at the Cape next week or in Boston the 19^th?” This valuable letter is astonishing lasting evidence of one of Kennedy’s many secret affairs.

The letter is believed to have been written just a month before Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas. Due to this, the note remained unsent and existed in the hands of Kennedy’s longtime personal secretary Evelyn Lincoln all these years. Mary Pinchot Meyer never received the loving demands.

The love letter was sold at auction on Thursday, however the buyer wishes to remain anonymous.

Another Kennedy related item fetched quite a high final bid at RR Auction: a wooden rocking chair once owned and used by John F. Kennedy sold at auction for $74,938.15.

Every month RR Auction holds new auctions of authentic rare autographs, artifacts and signed memorabilia. A new auction entitled “Fine Autographs and Artifacts featuring Animation” opens for bids this June 24^th, concluding on July 13^th. This auction features items ranging from verified signatures of the Founding Fathers to those of pop culture icons and rare animation cels.

More items on auction can be previewed daily at RR Auction’s website. For continued updates on rare and historic documents and artifacts for auction, follow RR Auction’s Twitter at https://twitter.com/rrauction and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/rrauction/.