Jackie Kennedy's treasures fetch millions at auction

A historic auction held from April 23 to 26, 1996, saw an unprecedented surge in bidding for personal effects belonging to former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. The sale, conducted by Sotheby's over nine sessions, anticipated earnings of over $4.6 million, a figure that was dramatically outpaced as the event unfolded. Many items intimately connected to her time in the White House drew the most intense interest.

The star lot was Aristotle Onassis's 40-carat diamond engagement ring, which sold for an astounding $2.6 million to billionaire Anthony O'Reilly. Another significant sale was the antique French desk where President Kennedy signed the nuclear test ban treaty, fetching $1.3 million. Even everyday objects like a child's rocking horse, initially valued at $75,000, sold for $400,000.

Personal mementos also captivated buyers, with a French grammar textbook from Kennedy's school days selling for $42,500 and a black enamel cigarette lighter, a reminder of Onassis's private habits, going for $85,000. Actor Arnold Schwarzenegger was among the notable buyers, acquiring President Kennedy's golf clubs for $772,500.

The auction's success far exceeded Sotheby's wildest expectations, with even the lowest priced items, such as six books about Asia, selling for $1,250. A necklace of fake pearls, famously seen in a photograph with her son John, sold for $211,500 against an estimate of $500-$700.