Franklin & Eleanor Roosevelt, Photograph, Signed by both

Description

Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, each sign a black and white photograph of the happy couple.

A smiling President (reading a book) and First Lady (knitting), taken on the south porch at Hyde Park, July 1941. According to Mary Seeley’s book Season’s Greetings from The White House there were 404 of these signed photos given to White House Staff at Christmas shortly after Pearl Harbor.

A note on the rear reads, “To Miss Bachelder / W. House 1933-1967.” This was Toinette M. Bachelder, who was brought into the White House by FDR. Toinette also had polio, and had met the President at Warm Springs.  They had become bridge partners.  Toinette became part of the WH secretarial staff and was close enough to the Roosevelts to regularly share dinner with them in the private quarters. She went on to serve five presidents and become an advocate for disability rights! Raleigh DeGeer Amyx, presidential historian, collector, and her friend, acquired this photograph, as his sticker is on the verso.  

Excellent; Eleanor’s signature is a bit lighter as are other examples, though still quite readable.  

Roosevelt, Franklin and Eleanor.  Dual-Signed 1941 Christmas, Matte-Finish Photo Portrait.  (Washington): 1941.  9-1/4” x 7-1/4” (sight), framed.  A scarce duel-signed photograph.