News

#2 Strangest Collectible Sold at Auction

October 13, 2011

#2 - John F. Kennedy’s Underwear - Sold for $5,000

In 2003 an auction was held of items once belonging to former US President, John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie Kennedy. The sale was made up of items belonging to Mary Gallagher, the former first lady’s secretary, and Providencia Paredes, her personal assistant. Included in the sale were many interesting collectibles, such as a notebook from Kennedy’s 1960 campaign and the handbag Jackie wore to her husband’s 1961 Inaugural Ball, but also up for sale was a pair of President Kennedy’s boxer shorts from WWII. The boxers were standard issue from JFK’s time in the United States Navy between 1941-1945 where he served as a commanding officer on a patrol boat. There was little doubt to the legitimacy of the underwear as the featured the label “Jack Kennedy” on them and came from the collection of close personal acquaintance. The underwear realised $5,000. Another item from the sale that should be noted, when making a list of strange auction collectibles, was a Barbie doll that once belonged to Jackie Kennedy that sold on the day for $2,750. Not your standard auction of political memorabilia, but it must have rather interesting and inviting auction for the many collectors of Kennedy memorabilia.