Lot 17

Eisenhower Rare Free Frank as President, Shortly Before Rumored Conspiracy Theory Meeting with Aliens

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Eisenhower Rare Free Frank as President, Shortly Before Rumored Conspiracy Theory Meeting with Aliens

Estimate: $1,000 - $1,500

Current Bid: $800

(4 Bids)

April 23, 2025 10:00 AM EDT
Live Auction
Wilton, CT, US

Description:

Dwight Eisenhower
Palm Springs, CA, February 18, 1954
Eisenhower Rare Free Frank as President, Shortly Before Rumored Conspiracy Theory Meeting with Aliens
Signed Free Frank

A free-franked envelope signed by Dwight D. Eisenhower as president at the upper left corner in blue ink, Palm Springs, postmarked February 18, 1954. Typed address to John H. Thompson of Torrington, Connecticut. "Free" has been written in pencil in an unknown hand at the top right corner. Measuring 6.5" x 3.625". The verso is blank. Light creasing and toning throughout. Minor areas of ink transference and smudging to Eisenhower's signature. Boldly signed.

Early in 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower departed from the cold of the Washington, DC winter for a golf vacation in Palm Springs, California. On the night of the 20th, two days after this cover was postmarked, Eisenhower suddenly left the Smoke Tree Ranch where he was staying, and seemingly went missing. The Associated Press initially reported that the President had died of a heart attack, but retracted the story soon after. When he showed up the next morning at a church service in Los Angeles, reporters were told that he had to have emergency dental treatment after chipping a tooth while eating a chicken wing at dinner.

The missing night and morning subsequently fueled rumors that Eisenhower was using the alleged dentist visit as a cover story for something far stranger and weirder. There are some conspiracy theorists who believe that Eisenhower was taken to Edwards Air force base for a secret meeting with extraterrestrials. It is alleged that he met with two aliens – nicknamed "Nordics" because of their resemblance to Scandinavian humans.

A telegram sent to Eisenhower in 1960 by Leon Davidson even references the theories, reading "Note your 1954 Palm Springs vacation created flying saucer rumors based on inspection of secret aircraft at California base…" Obviously these rumors have never been substantiated. Regardless, whatever the truth is about Ike and the aliens, it still makes for a fantastic story.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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    Dimensions:
  • 6.5" x 3.625"
  • Artist Name:
  • Dwight Eisenhower
  • Medium:
  • Signed Free Frank<br />

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