Bonhams announce the December 9th auction of property from the estate of Cecil W. Stoughton, the Chief Photographer for the Kennedy White House. The auction will begin at 1 p.m. at the Bonhams gallery located at 580 Madison Avenue at 56th Street.
Matthew Haley, Books, Manuscripts and Historical Photographs Specialist, said, “We’re excited to be offering this immense archive of material that gives a window into the life of one of America’s great presidents. In each one of them, you can see the personality of President Kennedy and his family.” He adds, “This archive truly represents a landmark in American history. It’s a joy to be handling it, and I’m very excited to see what happens in the auction.”
Mr. Stoughton, who captured many impressive public moments on film, as well as intimate private ones, was the first official White House photographer. The collection includes 12,000 photographs, several signed by John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy, an assortment of unpublished negatives, as well as letters written to Mr. Stoughton from Jacqueline Kennedy, and 7 volumes of daily schedule books for White House staffers; the whole expected to sell for upwards of $200,000.
Auction highlights include: an original tie worn by President John F. Kennedy given to Cecil W. Stoughton by Mrs. John F. Kennedy, 7 Dec 1963, matted and framed alongside a photograph by Cecil Stoughton of President Kennedy wearing the tie (est. $4,000-6,000); and an envelope labeled “Sensitive Material- May 19, 1962,” including a group of 29 negatives and 23 gelatin silver prints, that contains a very rare photograph showing Marilyn Monroe with John and Robert Kennedy at a democratic fundraiser (est. $4,000-6,000).
In addition, possibly the most famous picture Cecil Stoughton ever took will be up for sale: Johnson being sworn into office by Texas Judge, Sarah Hughes, aboard Air Force One, standing beside Jackie Kennedy and Lady Bird Johnson; Johnson signs at the lower mount: “To Cecil Stoughton / with high regard and appreciation / Lyndon B. Johnson”(est. $5,000-7,000).
Items of note are: Kennedy Children at The White House, 1963, an image of Kennedy in the Oval Office clapping as John Jr. and Caroline dance, photograph signed and inscribed “For Captain Stoughton–who captured beautifully a happy moment at the White House / John F. Kennedy” (est. $7,000 – 9,000); and a series of 15 albums assembled by Cecil Stoughton, containing approximately 430 photographs in a record of Kennedy’s presidency from June 1963 to his assassination in November, then the inauguration of Johnson, and the funeral on the 25th of that month (est. $8,000-12,000).
www.bonhams.com/usbooks
