Description:

Kennedy Jacqueline

Jackie Kennedy's signed Raw and uncensored pre-published ALS about the infamous Summer of 1951 with her sister!

 

Two page ALS written in graphite,  8.25" x 10.5." Café-au-lait toned stationary from a hair salon in France, with letterhead of Emile Georgel, coiffeur, 50 Rue Pierre-Charron (Camp-Elyssees), Paris-8e. All four pages extensively written. Signed by Jacqueline to the verso of page two as "All my love Mummy/ XO Jackie." Accompanied by the original mailing envelope of the same stationary with the postmarked stamp of "Paris, 31-8, 1951 .." (August 31, 1951). Autograph envelope in the hand of Jacqueline, addressed to her mother at Hammersmith Farm, Newport. Verso of envelope along top edge of the flap with her adorable jocular note of "PS-My nails are such claws now that when I'm driving there is no room for Lee in the front seat of the car -." Envelope neatly opened, with handling marks else near fine. ALS near fine and crisp.

 

Jackie Kennedy excitedly writes a long giddy school girl letter to her mother effervescing about her summer trip gallivanting about Europe with her sister, Caroline Lee. At the time Jackie was 21, and her sister 18. The two have asked their mother to let Lee travel to Europe to accompany Jackie who already lived in Paris, having taken her junior year abroad to study at the Sorbonne. The trip was Lee's high-school graduation present. With 21-year-old Jackie as her sister’s chaperone, and armed with Auchincloss letters of introduction to ambassadors and doyennes throughout Europe, the two young women made their way into the greater world, tootling around in a Hillman Minx.

 

What could have been more delightful for a pretty young girl in 1951 than to have been let loose in Europe? The two sisters kept a journal of their travels, illustrated with charming drawings and poems. Their reassuring letters to their mother (“We DO sew on all our buttons and wear gloves”) were belied by snapshots showing the girls in St. Mark’s Square dressed in slacks and sandals (Jackie) and a short skirt and ankle-­strap shoes (Lee). “Look at us,” Lee later remarked to The New York Times about the half-century-old photographs. “How did those countries let us in? We look like two criminals arriving off the boat.” Born to dazzle, they were the most famous sisters in the world, the Bouvier girls—Jacqueline and Caroline Lee. Jackie was studious, dark-haired, athletic, and reserved. Lee—three and a half years younger—was light-haired, chubby, mischievous, adventurous. As young girls, they called each other “Jacks” and “Pekes.” 

 

This phenomenal ALS was written by Jackie to her mother, to give her personal insight into her daughters summer of 1951 adventure 'real time and in the moment.' Her letter meanders playfully through the eyes of youthful wonderment.  Shown in part below, with every word sparking emotion, and a dizzying free flowing schedule:

 

"Dearest Mummy-

If this writing paper surprises you its because I'm sitting here under 10 kinds of strange machines having the front part of my hair decurled and the back curled (recall Jackie was in a French Salon when composing the letter) … I had it ALL cut off! Its rather a la Mary Marton now + I love it … it is hardly as long as my eyelashes!

 

You must be slightly confused as to what we've been doing lately - It has almost been the best part of the summer of all - and Mummy if you only knew what a perfect perfect summer its been - its so sad to have it nearly over - but its something we can think back on all our lives + having had it together with Lee has made it something so special at that - … It seems everyone is so much nicer to you + so intrigued with the idea of 2 sisters …

 

We had saved up a precious extra week by leaving early from places we didn't like - like Cannes - + we were wondering about all the delicious things we would do with it - After our time at the Danieli was up - we still couldn't bear to leave Venice - so we moved to the Regina … on the grand Canal with gondoliers .. Under our window + the church of the Salute lit up every nite - Then I got a wire from Roddy saying he would try + get to Venice the next weekend - but we would be gone by then - + I suddenly thought why not drive back to Pans via Austria + Germany + see him in Munich - instead of of through dreary Switzerland - So we took off thinking we would have to go through the worst Alps  … We spent the 1st night … with this sweet family - then we decided we couldn't be that near to Salzburg + not go to it - so it took about 3 hours to get there - + we got tickers for Verdi's Othello that nite - + who should we see there but Mr de Power - he was heavenly to us - took us backstage to meet Furtwangler then up to a castle on the hill to have cake + white wine - The next day we were on our way to Munich when we decided we had to go back + hear Stowkonski[sic conduct Russian music … seeing him conduct was the most unbelievable thing I've ever been to - the next morning we drove through the lake district around Austria + left for Munich … the next morning at 8:30 I was woken up by a bellboy carrying so many armfuls of pink + purple flowers he could hardly stagger into the room - Then Roddy + his roommates took us to lunch by a lake with swans - + that night to cocktails + a dance …

 

Jackie then describes hopping from town to town on her way back to Paris noting in the final paragraph "I hope Unk got our telegram + flowers + that he had a wonderful birthday - + I hope Yusha will be home for his - We have looted every man's shop on the continent + have so many delicious wardrobe presents for him-- All my love Mummy

XO Jackie"

 

Jackie's effervescent delightful letter is breathtaking to read. It would turn out that years later, in 1974, they would publish their memoirs of this phenomenal trip, inclusive of Jackie's wonderful drawings as a book called "One Special Summer." A copy of which accompanies this lot.


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