A collection of 13 photo negatives from the wedding of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy, found in the darkroom of the photographer who took them more than six decades ago, is available for sale in an online auction.
Each negative comes in its original sleeve, labeled “Pres. Kennedy 1953,” and is accompanied by a print, the first ever made from the negatives.
“It’s just unbelievable that this is left behind,” Bobby Livingston, executive vice president of RR Auction, told NBC News. “This is the beginning of Camelot. This is America’s version of a royal wedding. It’s spectacular.”
The images were taken by Arthur Borges, the “back-up” photographer hired for the Sept. 12, 1953 wedding, which was originally documented by Life magazine. The pictures provide both formal and candid shots of the storied event, which took place at St. Mary's Church in Newport, Rhode Island. About 700 guests attended the ceremony, while 1,200 people came to the reception that followed.
The photos include several of the couple leaving the church, and one of them cutting a five-tiered wedding cake.
“You'd think we'd seen every Kennedy photo by now, but we're still fascinated when we come up with new photos,” said Evan Thomas, the author of “Robert Kennedy: His Life.”
Livingston said the images are considered outtakes from the event. Relatives of Borges found the negatives after they went through his darkroom following his death in 1993.
“I mean, the ones that were outtakes, they’re glowing,” he said.
Livingston estimated the items will sell for thousands dollars by the time the online auction, which began Sept. 26, concludes on Oct. 15.
Slideshow 16 photos
Never-before-seen wedding photos of JFK and Jackie Kennedy
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