1946 John F Kennedy For Congress Campaign Postcard SGC (ONLY Graded Example)

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

1946 John F Kennedy For Congress Campaign Postcard SGC (ONLY Graded Example):
$5000.00

1946 JFK for Congress postcard. This is one of the very few items produced for John F Kennedy’s very first political campaign. In baseball terms, this is JFK’s “rookie card!” There are two varieties of 1946 JFK campaign cards: the postcard and the handout card that has text on reverse but is not a postcard. Both are great but the postcard style is BY FAR the rarer of the two. I have always been partial to the postcard because it is intended to be used for a specific purpose that is easily understood at a glance (mailing to generate support for JFK) and it is so much rarer than the handout card (there was a small fund of handout cards discovered long ago; no find ever of the campaign postcards).

This is a pre-primary postcard or JFK’s successful campaign for the MA 11th District in Congress. The primary was held on June 18, 1946. The short text on the reverse describes Kennedy as "an alert and capable young man, well qualified to represent the district."

Graded VG-EX 4 by SCG, this is the ONLY graded example to date (by SGC or PSA). The grade is very harsh by the way. That’s just how these grading companies are. There’s a tiny bit of white visible in the flush to the border black in the lower left. To my eyes this card is a strong EXCELLENT. But I understand how harsh cards are often graded by professional grading companies. This comes with the territory.

Conventional wisdom might say an ungraded example of this card is worth approximately $2500; actually the highest sale price realized I have seen at Heritage for the more common variety is $3375 (in their September 2021 sale). However, this is not only the rarer variety, it is the ONLY graded example (by PSA or SGC).

Value? I look at what “rookie cards” of virtually all baseball Hall of Famers sell for (vintage baseball cards is my area of professional expertise)…in comparison this “JFK Rookie” card seems very cheap. Someday I believe everyone will agree! (And I think JFK to political memorabilia is the equivalent of a star of the stature of Mickey Mantle to baseball).

I apologize for the glare in the photos (I took the photos with my iPhone).

Shipping: will be sent via USPS Registered mail. Takes a couple extra days but registered arrives safely 100% of the time.