International Autograph Auction Europe S.L.
Lot 872
KENNEDY JOHN F.: (1917-1963) American President 1961-63. A rare, early World War II date T.L.S., John F Kennedy, one page, 4to, American Embassy, London, 15th September 1939, to Charles R. Nasmith, American Consul in Edinburgh, on the printed stationery of the Foreign Service of the United States of America. Kennedy thanks his correspondent for their kindness 'in sending the wreath out to Rosslyn Chapel', adding that he and his sister appreciated it very much and apologising for the short notice. In concluding Kennedy writes 'I am leaving next Friday for America, so if you could let me have the bill, I will send you up a check immediately. Thanks again'. Accompanied by an unsigned carbon typed copy of a letter from Nasmith, one page, slim 4to, Edinburgh, 15th September 1939, to Edward E. Moore, Private Secretary to the American Ambassador in London stating, in part, 'Referring to your telephone conversation with me about taking flowers to the Memorial Service at Rosslyn Chapel of Peter St. Clair Erskine, I am very glad to inform you that this was arranged through the kindness of a friend of mine, Miss Joan White…….Miss White promised me that she would take the flowers to Rosslyn Chapel in time and would have a card placed on the flowers with the inscription which you wished as coming from John Kennedy, son of the Ambassador, and his sister. So far I have not heard whether there was any expense involved…..Perhaps if he feels so inclined Mr. John Kennedy might write a note of thanks to Miss Joan White…..' Attached to the letter is a small newspaper clipping relating to the death of Peter St. Clair Erskine. Kennedy's letter bears an ink annotation in an unidentified hand to the upper edge. A few small staple holes to the upper left corner and some light creasing to the edges, about VG, 2 Charles R. Nasmith (1882-1954) American Diplomat who served as the US Consul in Belgium and Scotland. The Hon. Peter St. Clair-Erskine (1918-1939) British Pilot with 111 Squadron of the Royal Air Force. An early casualty of World War II who was killed on active service at the age of 20. Kennedy was a friend of his elder brother, Anthony St. Clair-Erskine (1917-1977) 6th Earl of Rosslyn. In 1939, in preparation for his Harvard senior honours thesis, Kennedy toured Europe, the Soviet Union, the Balkans and the Middle East. Whilst in Berlin the United States diplomatic representative gave Kennedy a secret message about war breaking out soon to pass on to his father, Joseph P. Kennedy, US Ambassador to the United Kingdom (1938-40), and to Czechoslovakia. Kennedy returned to London on 1st September 1939, the day that Germany invaded Poland to mark the beginning of World War II. He would later fly back to the United States from Foynes, Ireland, on his first transatlantic flight.
