Christie's has announced a series of auctions next month in New York of items from "The Private Collection of President and Mrs Ronald Reagan" – the 40th president and first lady of the United States.
Estimates on individual items range from $1,000 (€898) to $50,000, and the auctions are expected to realise over $2 million in total.
Christie's said, as "per the Reagans' wishes, proceeds from the Collection sale are designated for The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute".
0 of 4
Ronald Reagan, who died, aged 93, in 2004, was a former Hollywood actor and subsequently governor of California, who served two terms as president of the US between 1981 and 1989.
His wife, Nancy, also a former Hollywood star, died in March this year, aged 94.
The sale will include furniture, decorative works, books, paintings, sculpture, drawings and prints from the couple’s home in Los Angeles. Decorative highlights include furniture and light fixtures designed by Billy Haines in the Hollywood Regency style, monogrammed porcelains ornamented with the presidential seal, Chinese ceramics, and personal mementos.
Christie’s says many of these objects were used by the president and first lady during their time in the White House.
Also being sold is jewellery from Ms Reagan’s personal collection, including a suite of jewels worn on a state visit to the UK in 1988 – a Van Cleef & Arpels diamond and gold lion pendant-brooch necklace (estimate: $30,000-$50,000) and the accompanying diamond and gold lion ear clips (estimate: $15,000-$20,000).
An American flag motif diamond, sapphire, and ruby ring by Bulgari, that she wore for Independence Day celebrations on July 4th, 1986, is estimated at $5,000-$8,000.
A gold and diamond bangle bracelet by Bulgari, worn by Ms Reagan at various state dinners, has a similar estimate.
Other highlights include personal mementos emblematic of the couple's time in the White House, including a Tiffany American marine chronometer, an inauguration gift from Frank and Barbara Sinatra, engraved with: "Good morning Mr President" and the dedication "January 1981 Love Francis and Barbara", which is estimated at $5,000-$10,000; and a pair of Elizabeth II silver beakers, inscribed: "With love, from Margaret and Denis Thatcher," estimated at $1,000-$2,000.
However, these estimates are likely to prove very conservative. Last year, Christie's auctioned items from the collection of Baroness Thatcher in London – the former British prime minister was a close ally of president Reagan.
In that sale, a 26in high porcelain model of an American bald eagle, by ceramics maker Kaiser – a gift to Ms Thatcher from president Reagan, sold for £266,500, more than 33 times the top estimate of £8,000 (€9,437) and her leather prime ministerial dispatch box, embossed in gold with the royal cypher of queen Elizabeth II, with a top estimate of £5,000, sold for £242,500.
