Important 1953 John F. Kennedy-Jacqueline Bouvier Wedding Memento

Being one of fourteen personalized umbrellas presented by the groom to each of his ushers, among whom were Ted Kennedy, and Sargent Shriver. The recipient of this fine Brooks Brothers product was Torbert Hart Macdonald, Kennedy's old Harvard roommate and a close friend who later served for many years in the House of Representatives. The umbrellas's black silk canopy is affixed to japanned metal ribs and stretchers, the varnished wooden shaft supports a brass tip cup engraved "J. F. K. / 9-12-53" on one side and "T. H. M." on the other.

36 in. LOA

The highly anticipated Kennedy-Bouvier nuptials were held on September 12, 1953 at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in fashionable Newport, Rhode Island. An umbrella identical to the Macdonald example is illustrated in Jay Mulvaney's Kennedy Weddings (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1999). This profusely illustrated softcover book is included with the lot.

Wear and chipping to the varnish; the silk canopy, though heavily fractured, is still attached and makes for an attractive display when folded; finish losses to the tip cup; no apparent cracks to the shaft.

$5,000 - 10,000