Lot 130
Reagan, Ronald & Mikhail Gorbachev. Official White House Photograph Signed "Ronald Reagan" as President and "M. Gorbachev," in Cyrillic script, as Secretary-General of the Soviet Communist Party and last leader of the Soviet Union, 14" x 11" (the actual image is 9½" x 7½"), n.p. (Washington and the Soviet Union), n.d. (c.1988). The photograph was taken in the White House Library on December 8, 1887, the same day the two leaders signed a treaty that for the first time eliminated the entire class of intermediate-range missiles. Official White House stamp and date are on verso.
President Reagan and General Secretary Gorbachev held several "summits" during President Reagan's administration--from Reykjavik to Geneva, to Moscow, The White House and New York. A designated White House travel staff accompanied President Reagan on most of these summit meetings. After this particular photograph was taken, approximately 35 photos were signed by President Reagan and then sent to General Secretary Gorbachev for his signature. They were to be given to President Reagan's traveling staff as a token of appreciation for their participation in the summits. When General Secretary Gorbachev received them and saw the notation of what they would be used for, he thought it was a great idea and signed them all, then decided to keep half for his own staff who had particiated in these same meetings. Consequently, the White House sent another 35 signed photos to Gorbachev and, again, he signed them all and kept half. There are likely fewer than 100 of these signed photos in existence. A historic photograph!
Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500.
From a former member of President Reagan's personal staff.
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| Realized $6,900 |
