John F. Kennedy Christmas gift to Air Force 1 pilot

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Zippo cigarette lighter. The lighter is engraved with the Presidential seal, first couple's initials and 12-25-62. The Zippo lighter with presidential seal was produced as a souvenir gift for the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations. They typically carried only the seal and sometimes a facsimile signature. This lighter would have obviously been a limited variation because of the Christmas date and initials of Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. Presidents have regularly given small, relatively inexpensive gifts to their immediate staff and cabinet members. Typically the gifts have been prints of some type. This particular lighter was given to James Swindal who was Kennedy's pilot on Air Force One. It was Swindal who flew the President to Dallas and of course brought his body back to Washington . The gift lighter certainly would not be unique but very few exist. It is likely that other members of the Air Force One crew received similar gifts. This one is in excellent condition with its original box. A rare presidential gift with outstanding association to the tragedy in Dallas just 11 months later. Th is lot is offered by Custodians of History, I deal in historic autographs with an emphasis on presidents, Supreme Court, space, colonial and ge neral American history. All items carry a full refund for authenticity for life and a five day read more

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