Lot 84
Roosevelt, Franklin D. Polished walnut cane with silver knob and German nickel ferrule, 36¼ inches long, engraved on the end of the knob, "F D R" with a wreath below, and on the side of the knob, "President of U.S.A. / March 4, 1933"; the ferrule has been reattached. Housed in a silver-and-blue custom-made frame, 44½ x 9 inches, with a plaque engraved, "Franklin Delano Roosevelt / President of the United States / March 4, 1933." The cane, dating to his first presidential inauguration, was used by FDR and given to long-time White House maid, Lillian Rogers Parks at his death. In a letter of provenance to Raleigh DeGeer Amyx, handwritten on stationery imprinted with the Presidential Seal and "The White House / Washington, D.C." and dated April 12, 1985, Mrs. Parks writes, in part, "This beautiful cane inscribed F.D.R. on the silver handle was used by the President….When our beloved President passed away the first Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt told the staff we could have some of the President's personal belongings. This lovely cane was one of these items…." In her book, Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House, Mrs. Parks wrote that she felt a special kinship with FDR because she too was partially crippled by polio. She notes that the President called her "Little Girl" (she was 4'10") and insisted that she use the presidential elevator between floors. The consignor, Raleigh DeGeer Amyx, became very close to Mrs. Parks between 1979, when he started his collection, and 1997, when she died at the age of 100; he served as a pall bearer at her funeral.
Estimated Value $7,500 - 10,000.
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