Description
The first edition of On Moral Courage by Compton Mackenzie, from the library of First Lady Jackie Kennedy, with notes about her meeting with the de Gaulle family.
Octavo, 255pp, [1]. Blue cloth, title stamped in gilt on the spine. The first impression, with no additional printings noted on copyright page. Pencil notes on the front free endpapers, internally clean. Housed in custom gray cloth clamshell, title stamped in black over orange morocco label on the spine. In the publisher’s dust jacket, price clipped, coffee ring on front cover, paperclip mark on rear panel, closed tears along front hinge, bright orange illustrations, a very good example.
This copy is from Jackie Kennedy’s private library, previously sold at Sotheby’s Estate Sale in 1996.
Notes in Jackie Kennedy’s hand on the front free endpaper: “Macmillan – de Gaulle / French like to be — 15 years – after that what will happen? [French] / Asked de Gaulle in warm — – probably never see you again. What do you think of us – [trans. The English are annoying, worrying, tiring] – true you know / de Gaulle – stayed in private country house, very trying – then someone said where do we keep the blood – must ask Mrs. Bell the cook – Sausage in icebox – so put in other icebox – no play in squash court – doesn’t know this but always an audience + French + Eng / didou + blood / Break of Day”
Throughout First Lady Jackie Kennedy’s public-facing career, she met with Charles de Gaulle twice; once alongside President John F. Kennedy in 1961, and again at her husband’s funeral in late 1963. Due to the publication history of this volume, the notes in Jackie Kennedy’s hand are likely from the second meeting. It is unknown if the notes are in reference to Charles de Gaulle, or his wife, Yvonne de Gaulle, although Yvonne did not attend JFK’s funeral.
