Additional Coverage:
- ‘Antiques Roadshow’ guest says ‘that is a lot of money’ after hearing the value of his JFK jacket (marketrealist.com)
A black leather jacket belonging to President John F. Kennedy recently surfaced on “Antiques Roadshow,” stunning both its owner and the show’s appraiser. While leather jackets aren’t typical “Roadshow” fare, the historical significance of this particular garment sent its value soaring.
The jacket’s journey to the “Roadshow” is a tale in itself. JFK, while visiting France, reportedly gave the jacket to a woman he was dating.
The relationship ended when he returned to the US, but the jacket remained in France. It eventually passed down through the woman’s family, ultimately landing in the hands of the “Roadshow” guest whose father was best friends with the woman’s nephew.
The guest, having researched the jacket’s provenance, was hopeful for a positive appraisal but was still shocked to hear the expert’s estimate.
The appraiser, clearly impressed by the jacket’s history, placed its auction value between $264,000 and $396,000. “The story is everything,” the appraiser emphasized, urging the owner to document the jacket’s unique history. The guest, understandably, responded with, “That is a lot of money.”
This isn’t the first time a JFK item has appeared on “Antiques Roadshow.” In a previous episode, a guest presented a briefcase purportedly owned by the former president, complete with his initials.
The guest claimed JFK frequented her uncle’s cobbler shop and gifted him the briefcase. The expert deemed this a significant piece of American history, estimating its worth between $20,000 and $30,000.
These “Antiques Roadshow” appearances underscore the enduring fascination with JFK and the high value placed on artifacts connected to his life and legacy.