FIRST EDITION OF PROFILES IN COURAGE, INSCRIBED BY JOHN F. KENNEDY

KENNEDY, John F. Profiles in Courage. New York: Harper & Brothers, (1956). Octavo, original half black cloth boards, original dust jacket. Housed in a custom clamshell box. $18,500.

First edition, first printing, of Kennedy's Pulitzer-winning examination of "that most admirable of human virtues," inscribed : "To Marguerite Doherty—with my warmest regards. John Kennedy."

"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 7: 420). First printing, with "First Edition" and publisher's code "M-E" (December 1955) on copyright page. Bookplate of the recipient, Marguerite F. Doherty. Two flyers for Women on Wheels of Massachusetts laid in. Doherty was an enthusiastic member of the organization. Kennedy met with Democratic Women on Wheels of Massachusetts in the Rose Garden on May 21, 1962.

Book fine, dust jacket with light wear and toning to extremities and a few tape repairs to verso. A near-fine copy, most desirable inscribed.