Lot 513 President Kennedy's Cigar Box Kept in The Oval Office Containing 11 Cigars and 1 Matchbook

A brown wooden cigar box that was given to President John F. Kennedy on his 45th birthday, May 29, 1962. It contained Manila cigars, not a brand he smoked, so he brought it to the Oval Office and kept it stocked with gift cigars for staff celebrations.

1. The iron-hinged box is made of lacquered mahogany and bears a silver nameplate reading, "John F. Kennedy," on the lid's top left corner. The inside lid of the box is engraved with the logo of "Manila Cigars, A Product of Tabacalera," which is a four part coat-of-arms topped with a crown. Four removable cedar panels line the interior sides of the base. The bottom of the box contains a black inspection stamp from the "Republic of the Philippines Bureau of Internal Revenue Passed Upon By The Tobacco Inspection Service As Hand Made Long-Filler Cigars From Tobacco Grown in the Cagayan Valley." Good condition, nameplate shows slight tarnish. Box 9 x 8 x 3
2. The box contains 11 hand-rolled cigars wrapped in clear plastic, which is stamped with "Perfecto Garcia Ensigns" in white lettering. An amber-colored plastic cigar holder and an unused white matchbook with "The President's House" in gold-colored lettering are also in the box. The matches were "Union Made A.F.L. local No. 18734," which is stamped in gold lettering on the bottom fold. The inside flap reads "Diamond Match Division, Diamond National Corporation, New York, N.Y." in black lettering. Good condition, cigar holder slightly smudged and matchbook slightly stained on cover. Match heads cut off for safety reasons. Cigars 6 3/4 long, Holder 1 3/4 long, Matchbook 2 x 2