Description:

FDR Hand-Made Ship Model! Authentication by Eleanor: "the ship was made by my husband." Unique Survival, Provenance: Lehand Family

*THIS ITEM REQUIRES THIRD-PARTY SHIPPING*

Hand-made sailboat, housed in a wooden & glass box measuring 13.75" x 6" x 9.875." The inside of the hand-crafted makeshift box has been painted light blue to represent the sea. The boat, an intricate example, appears to be glued into a hard clay representing the waves of the ocean. The meticulous attention to detail is uncanny and the incredible focus it took to build the ship shows the deep passion FDR had for the ocean. The delicate boat is in fine condition with expected aging, while the wooden box has some chipping and loose glass. See photos for additional condition.

The ship is accompanied by a letter written and signed by Eleanor Roosevelt and sent to Mr. Thomas E. Collins. Collins was the nephew of Marguerite “Missy” Lehand, FDR's personal secretary and closest confidant for more than 20 years.

The letter, 6" x 7", dated May 14th, 1957, is written on "Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt" letterhead and reads:

"Dear Mr. Collins:

I am sorry for the delay in answering your letter, but I have been abroad.

It was very nice to hear from you and of course I will write a note to William Telling him that the ship was made by my husband.

When you come to Hyde Park, do get in touch with me. The phone number there is Capital 9-2300.

With my good wishes to you and your family.

Very sincerely yours,

Eleanor Roosevelt."

Also included in the lot are two "Mrs. Roosevelt" cards with short notes that are signed "E.R."

In 1924, FDR, Missy, and Leroy, FDR's personal valet, journeyed to the Caribbean Sea on the Larooco, a boat FDR bought with his friend, near Florida. Although there is speculation that FDR and Missy had a secret affair, there is no proof of this, and her strong and loving relationship with Eleanor and their children casts doubt on such a theory. What is certain, however, is that their time spent aboard the Larooco was integral in creating a close relationship between them that persisted until Missy's passing.

Roosevelt was an enthusiastic collector, accumulating not only material items but also people and ideas. His love for the sea was passed down from both sides of his family, the Delanos and the Roosevelts. He was especially passionate about naval art, stamps, rare first-edition books, and ship models. Although famous for his stamp collecting, his first true love was the ocean. Both his mother's and father's family had strong connections to the sea, with the Delanos making their fortunes in the maritime trading business, and the Roosevelts as investors, owners, and builders of ships. Several of the models in his collection were related to his family in some way.

John C. Weeks of Provincetown, Massachusetts once gave FDR a model of the "Rainbow" when the President stopped there during a 1933 sailing trip along the New England coast. FDR later wrote Weeks “As you know, “I take great interest in ships and ship models and have spent many happy hours with my collection...”

In June of 1941, the FDR Presidential Library and Museum opened, with FDR himself selecting the models to be displayed in the original Naval Room. Contrary to what the name suggests, the Naval Room was adorned with both naval and merchant ship models. 

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.

*THIS ITEM REQUIRES THIRD-PARTY SHIPPING*

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May 31, 2023 11:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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