John Kennedy, Jr. Baby Gift, 3-Pc Infant Clothing Set

A 3-pc infant clothing set given to the Kennedys after the birth of John, Jr., ca. 1960, from the collection of Mary Barelli Gallagher (born 1928), Jacqueline Kennedy's private secretary. The vintage matched set, Style 1175, was manufactured by Health-Tex Santogs and corresponds to size 6 months. Isolated expected wear, else near fine. Accompanied by a photocopy of a document establishing the item's provenance signed by Mary Barelli Gallagher on March 15, 2011.

The lot is comprised of:

1. Short-sleeved button-down shirt with Peter Pan collar and embroidered train on the left lapel. (The shirt is currently pinned by two tailor's pins to the pair of yellow shorts.) 14.25" inches across the shoulders, 9.375" collar to hem.

2. Pair button-down yellow shorts with waterproof plastic lining. Isolated scuffs to the front near the right leg, and some printed text has come off onto the plastic lining.

3. Pair blue and white seersucker shorts with waterproof plastic lining. 9.5" x 7.5".

As Gallagher explains, "This baby gift is one of the many gifts that had arrived daily to the home of President-Elect and Mrs. John F. Kennedy, 3307 N St., N.W., Georgetown, Washington, D.C. on the occasion of John Jr.'s birth, November 25, 1960. Mrs. Kennedy would ask that I prepare a letter of thanks to the sender for her to sign, and this is one of the gifts that she offered me to take home. I donated the vast majority of these gifts to various charities, others I gave away to friends, relatives, etc., keeping the more interesting ones, such as this, for myself…"

John F. Kennedy, Jr. (1960-1999) was the first baby ever born to an incoming elected president, and as such, John-John's firsts were monitored with universal interest. The Kennedys received thousands of gifts from around the world, ranging from booties knitted by Kennedy supporters watching televised election debates, to Catholic devotional gifts like Rosary beads. Three presidential staffers worked full-time cataloging baby gifts, and as we know, Jackie needed a secretary to prepare all of her thank you notes!

Mary Barelli Gallagher served as secretary to then Massachusetts Senator John F. Kennedy between 1953-1956, and as private secretary to Jackie Kennedy between 1956-1964. During her time working for the Kennedys, Gallagher collected notes, photos, and mementos, and even inherited some of Jackie's clothing and pets. Some of Gallagher's recollections are shared in her 1969 My Life with Jacqueline Kennedy.

Provenance: Ex-Bonhams March 9, 2017 sale

Ex-Mary Barelli Gallagher

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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