That is certainly the case when a president dies. So many letters of condolences are received that a card is printed and sent to everyone who sends in a letter. You have one of those cards. And there are thousands more.

Still, the value of a JFK condolence card has additional value because of its association with Jackie and the JFK assassination. It’s nice that you have the original envelope, but it was filled out by a volunteer like I was. It was sent over Jackie’s signature instead of postage because in 1958, the law allowed the widows of presidents to use franked mail (the signature) instead of a stamp. They still do.

If you can keep the envelope and the card together, the value isn’t particularly high, between $15 and $30 to a collector. It might be better to just keep it as a family heirloom, a part of your family’s history.

Tom Carrier
Worthologist

That may also be true of the Nixon letters. Unless the signed letter has policy implications or has the language that is personalized beyond that of a form letter, we can assume that it is more along the lines of ephemera as well.

Hope this helps.

Tom Carrier
703 863 5971

The book and LP recording are quite common commemorative items and are usually sold second hand for $2 to $10 or so for the LP. Some antique and collectible dealers try to get more for them because of the JFK association, but they are so widely available that supply will never be a problem.

Hope this helps.

Tom Carrier
Worthologist

I recently found a stack of newspapers from of articles from the date after JFK’s death. I was wondering how much they are worth and how do i go about selling these?

Without even seeing the spoons, I can at least tell you that these kinds of collectibles have never made it as very valuable keepsakes. They really have more sentimental value than a monetary one.

I did a WorthPoint blog just about these types of collectibles somet time back and I refer you to that blog along with a more recent blog to help explain the types of values your spoons might have.

Tom Carrier
Worthologist

http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/presidential-commemoratives-once-month

http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/unloved-antiques-silver-plated-souvenir-spoons

I have recently been cleaning out an old barn on an 1830′s plantation in South Carolina. The property was donated to a non-profit and I am trying to raise funds to save it anyway that I can. Today I came across a stack of 1960′s Kennedy campaign brochures and am wondering if they are worth anything. Some are damaged but those that were in the middle of the stack appear to be in fantastic shape aside from the expected dusty aroma, ha-ha. Due to its “hiding place” of the last 51 years, I found it an especially interesting and somewhat ironic find, as the focus is on race relations and Kennedy is pictured with an African leader and an African American on the cover. It reads ” A Time for Moral Leadership” on the front. Any insight you may provide would be greatly appreciated.

It depends. There are photo archives that will be photos and their negatives for use in commercial applications. Yours might be a good candidate for that. I don’t suspect you’d get much for it (I don’t know that type of business very well), but it can’t be much.

It depends on the image itself and whether it is readily reproducable. Not having seen your image, I can’t say for sure.

Hope this helps.

Tom Carrier
Worthologist

would this have any value? Do you know someone in Ottawa Canada I could take this to, to verify whether or not its an actual JFK signature and or one signed by an assistant. My dad has been passed since 1971, so no way to find out more info. Thank you for your time.

I’m glad you found the tape, too. Ampex 632 reel-to-reel tape, interestingly enough, is still available here and there. I understand it to be more of a professional grade of video recording tape and so that makes your find more interesting than the traditional 8mm type.

But have you been able to see it? If the video portion is only of the funeral as it winds its way down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., for example, from a sidewalk position, then its merely sentimental. It the video portion shows closeups of the family, President Johnson, or preparations along the way, than it is of historical nature. What is being recorded will determine its overall value.

So, until it is viewed completely, the value, to me, is a generic video recording of an event, with some meaning to be sure, with a value of about $10 to $20. On the other hand, with more of an insight into the event itself, the value could be more.

Tom Carrier
Worthologist