Sports Memorabilia, Trading Cards, and Americana May 16'26
Lot 828:
Description
BID PER WHAT YOU SEE IN THE PHOTO, NOT THE AI GENERATED TITLES AND DESCRIPTIONS! Two Programs. Kennedy-Johnson Inaugural Committee. Official Program Inaugural Ceremonies. Merkle Press, 1961; and Seattle World’s Fair 1962 Official Souvenir Program. 1962.
This lot features two original softcover souvenir programs from significant early 1960s American historical events. The first item is the Official Program for the Inaugural Ceremonies of John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, dated January 20, 1961. This quarto-sized volume (approximately 11.5 by 8.5 inches) was printed by Merkle Press Inc. in Washington, D.C., under the copyright of the Kennedy-Johnson Inaugural Committee (Library of Congress catalog card number 61-9828). The staple-bound pictorial wrappers display a bald eagle against a 50-star American flag motif. The interior includes biographical sketches, black-and-white photography, and a full-page portrait of President Kennedy with a printed facsimile signature.
The second item is the Official Souvenir Program for the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, also known as the Century 21 Exposition. This quarto-sized program features staple-bound pictorial wrappers with bold blue and purple typography. The interior contains color artist renderings of the fairgrounds, the Space Needle, and various international pavilions. The publication includes topical essays, including a piece on contemporary art authored by Vincent Price. The back cover features promotional text and photography from the Washington State Department of Commerce and Economic Development under Governor Albert D. Rosellini.
Condition report:
Both items exhibit moderate age-related wear consistent with softcover ephemera of this period. The 1961 Inaugural Program shows notable foxing and brown damp staining on several internal pages, including the table of contents and the Kennedy portrait page. The wrappers show edge rubbing, light scuffing, and minor corner creasing. The 1962 Seattle World’s Fair program exhibits moderate rubbing and surface scuffing to the dark-colored covers, along with corner bumping and light wear along the spine. Internally, the pages remain largely clean with bright color illustrations.
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