Vintage 1961 John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Inaugural Edition Hardcover with Original Dust Jacket

This is the 1961 Inaugural Edition of Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy, published by Harper & Row, New York, to commemorate Kennedy's inauguration as the 35th President of the United States.

Originally published in 1956, Profiles in Courage received the 1957 Pulitzer Prize for Biography. Written while Kennedy was serving as a United States Senator, the book examines the lives and political careers of eight American senators who demonstrated exceptional courage by taking principled stands despite considerable political opposition.

This special 1961 Inaugural Edition includes a new foreword by distinguished American historian Allan Nevins, written specifically for the occasion of Kennedy's presidency.

The book is bound in striking royal blue cloth-covered boards with a contrasting black cloth spine, the latter featuring gilt lettering identifying the title, author, publisher and Inaugural Edition. A gilt facsimile of Kennedy's signature appears on the lower right corner of the front cover.

It retains its original illustrated dust jacket, with bold red and blue typography against a white background, an olive-gold horizontal band, and a blue lower panel identifying the author. The back of the jacket features a large black-and-white photographic portrait of Kennedy.

The book contains 266 numbered pages, preceded by 23 pages of introductory material, and includes historical photographs and illustrations throughout.

Publication Details

• Author: John F. Kennedy
• Title: Profiles in Courage
• Publisher: Harper & Row, New York
• Publication Date: 1961
• Edition: Inaugural Edition
• Foreword: Allan Nevins
• Binding: Hardcover with original dust jacket
• Pages: xxiii + 266
• Language: English
• Printed in the United States

Approximate Measurements

6" wide × 8 1/2" high

Condition

Near fine hardcover with very good original dust jacket. The binding is exceptionally well preserved, with clean blue boards, bright gilt decoration and a clean interior. The original dust jacket displays some age-related toning, light soiling and minor wear along the edges and corners, including small nicks and creases. Please refer to the photographs for details.

An attractive and well-preserved example of this special presidential Inaugural Edition, of interest to collectors of John F. Kennedy memorabilia, American presidential history and twentieth-century political literature.