John F. Kennedy 1963 Signed Photograph Inscribed to Bachrach

Vintage matte-finish 7.25 x 9 bust portrait of Kennedy in a pinstriped suit affixed to its original 9.5 x 12.5 mount, signed and inscribed on the mount in fountain pen, “For Fabian Bachrach, With warm regards, John F. Kennedy.” The photo also features a gold embossed photographer’s stamp reading, “Fabian Bachrach” in the lower right corner. Gorgeously double-matted and framed with an engraved plaque to an overall size of 24 x 30.5. In fine condition.

According to Bachrach family legend, this portrait of Kennedy—the photographer’s most famous, among an astonishingly wide array of celebrity photos—almost failed to be. When Senator Kennedy sat for his photo in 1959, Bachrach returned to the studio to find that there were no useable images—all were either out of focus or showed Kennedy, suffering from chronic back pain, awkwardly standing. Desperate for a second chance, Bachrach phoned Kennedy’s office repeatedly, finally receiving an appointment for another session in the summer of 1960. With his subject detained by all-night Senate proceedings, the photographer was about to leave when Kennedy finally appeared. With time for only six shots, he worked quickly and expertly, capturing not only what would become the presidential portrait—the image offered here—but also the wildly popular image of Kennedy seated in his leather armchair with the American flag behind him. As the only known print of this portrait holding the gold embossed Bachrach stamp, inscribed to Fabian Bachrach himself, this is a one-of-a-kind example of the most iconic presidential photo in American history. Pre-certified John Reznikoff/PSA/DNA and RR Auction COA

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