President John F Kennedy’s final autograph is up for auction

President Kennedy's final autograph has a minimum bid of $25,000Getty Images

Goldin Auctions has set the minimum bidding for JFK's autograph at $25k

President John F. Kennedy’s final autograph is currently being auctioned by Goldin Auctions based in New Jersey.

The final autograph from JFK was captured by Airman Second Class Hector J. Alaniz on November 22, 1963, as President Kennedy and his wife Jacqueline were boarding Air Force One for a short flight from Fort Worth to Dallas in Texas.

The Kennedys were in Dallas for less than an hour before the President was assassinated, which, as Goldin Auctions says, “ended an unprecedented moment of hope for the world."

The Kennedys in Dallas shortly before the President was assassinated (Getty Images)

Goldin Auctions details the events surrounding the President's final autograph: “At approximately 11:15 AM, John and Jacqueline Kennedy stepped from their white convertible Lincoln limousine, Jackie resplendent in her pink Chanel suit with matching trademark pillbox hat and her husband in his typical dark suit and tie. A military band played as the President shook hands with the awe-struck servicemen who lined his path to the jet.”

“Then, just before Kennedy reached the steps that led up to Air Force One, a small, spiral bound note pad was thrust towards him to sign. Despite the tight schedule, the President took pen in hand and hastily signed a blank page of the pad.”

The final autograph of President Kennedy (Goldin Auctions)

“Then, more handshakes, a final wave from atop the staircase, and Air Force One taxied down the runway towards history. The time was now 11:25 AM. With his assassination occurring at 12:30 PM, this note pad is thought to hold the very last signature of John F. Kennedy.”

As further provenance, Goldin Auctions points to the National Geographic documentary 'JFK The Final Hours' which includes footage of the President and his wife meeting with fans and signing an autograph before boarding Air Force Once at Carswell Air Force Base.

Goldin Auctions adds: “Luckily for historians and collectors, Airman Second Class Hector J. Alaniz, who was stationed at Carswell Air Force Base on that fateful day and was assigned to the Munitions Maintenance Squadron according to the letter of provenance that accompanies this item, obtained this signature took the time to carefully write out the circumstance surrounding it and its significance to history - the actual timeline recorded by the original owner is somewhat off from the current accepted one painstakingly assembled by historians in the years since the assassination.”

In the notepad in which Airman Alaniz captured the President's autograph, he wrote:

Autograph of John F. Kennedy

President U.S.A.

On 22 Nov 1963 at Dallas, Tex.

1. Time of autograph: 10:25+ (3 min prior to depart from Carswell A.F.B. Tex.

2. Place: Carswell A.F.B., Tex. (Fort Worth, Tex) at Flight Line on base

3. Assination (sp) at Dallas, Tex. 1220?

The notes recorded by Airman Alaniz (Goldin Auctions)

Of the notebook itself, Goldin Auctions says: “The simple 4 x 5-inch spiral-bound notebook shows surface wear to both covers and metal fasteners. There are many notations and figures hand written on the inside and outside covers in pens and pencils of various colors. The interior pages are in much finer condition, with some light toning around the edges of each page and some light tearing along the holes where the metal spiral binding is secured.”

“The page with Kennedy’s signature contains only the signature, written in red ballpoint with some light smudging below.”

“As previously noted, the original owner has thankfully used the adjacent page to carefully write out in pencil all the details and significance of the signature captured within the small book.”

“A tremendous signature with a direct link to last moments of America’s innocence and the beginning of the modern era.”

“This signature comes with a LOA from JSA and a detailed letter of provenance from Airman Second Class Hector J. Alaniz.”

You can watch Goldin Auctions video about the now infamous JFK autograph here:

You can learn more about the Goldin Auction of President Kennedy's final autograph on their website.