PROFILES IN COURAGE, INSCRIBED BY JOHN F. KENNEDY

KENNEDY, John F. Profiles in Courage. New York: Harper & Brothers, (1956). Octavo, original half black cloth, dust jacket. $9000.

Later printing of Kennedy’s Pulitzer-winning examination of “that most admirable of human virtues,” inscribed by him, "To Florence Zaks, Best regards, John Kennedy." Recipient Zaks worked on Kennedy's presidential campaign in Maryland.

"A series of sketches of American politicians who risked their careers in the cause of principle… 'A man does what he must,' Kennedy wrote, 'in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures—and that is the basis of all human morality'… The book was popular history of high order, and it received the Pulitzer Prize for biography in 1957" (DAB). Illustrated with eight pages of black-and-white photographic plates. With publisher's code "B-K" on copyright page indicating that this copy was published February, 1960 (the first printing was December, 1955). Dust jacket supplied from another copy. Recipient's owner signature on the front free endpaper alongside Kennedy's inscription, dated May 13, 1960. Zaks worked on the Kennedy campaign in Maryland; on May 13, 1960, Kennedy was campaigning in the Hagerstown, Maryland area.

Book with a touch of rubbing to extremities; dust jacket with shallow chip to head of mildly sunned spine, exceptionally good.