Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, is remembered as one of the most influential figures in modern American politics.
His legacy as a champion of conservative values and a Cold War warrior has cemented his place in history, and his memorabilia is highly sought after by collectors.
In this blog post, we take a look at 10 of the most valuable pieces of Ronald Reagan memorabilia that have been sold at auction.
1. Reagan's personal Bible:
In 2016, Ronald Reagan's personal Bible, which he used during his presidency, sold at auction for $325,000. The leather-bound King James Bible is embossed with Reagan's name and the presidential seal.
2. "Evil Empire" speech notes:
In 2013, the handwritten notes for Ronald Reagan's "Evil Empire" speech, in which he condemned the Soviet Union, sold at auction for $51,000.
3. "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" speech notes:
In 2013, the handwritten notes for Ronald Reagan's iconic speech in which he challenged Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall sold at auction for $380,000.
4. Presidential limousine:
In 2016, the 1984 Cadillac limousine used by Ronald Reagan during his second inauguration sold at auction for $120,000.
5. Presidential bomber jacket:
In 2016, Ronald Reagan's brown leather bomber jacket, which he wore during his presidency, sold at auction for $40,000.
6. Presidential cufflinks:
In 2017, a pair of presidential cufflinks worn by Ronald Reagan sold at auction for $6,000.
7. Air Force One coffee mug:
In 2017, a coffee mug used by Ronald Reagan on Air Force One sold at auction for $6,000.
8. Campaign poster:
In 2014, a rare 1966 campaign poster for Ronald Reagan's campaign for governor of California sold at auction for $7,000.
9. Presidential seal ashtray:
In 2013, an ashtray with the presidential seal used by Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office sold at auction for $6,000.
10. Signed baseball:
In 2016, a baseball signed by Ronald Reagan during his presidency sold at auction for $3,500.
Ronald Reagan memorabilia is highly prized by collectors, and the items on this list are just a small sample of the wide range of pieces available.
From personal items used by the president, such as his Bible and bomber jacket, to historic speeches and campaign posters, these pieces provide a glimpse into the life and legacy of one of the most influential presidents in American history.
These ten pieces of Ronald Reagan memorabilia sold at auction for thousands and even hundreds of thousands of dollars, demonstrating the enduring interest in this iconic political figure and his impact on American politics and culture.
About your Author:
Adrian Roose has over 30 years’ experience covering all aspects of the rare stamp & memorabilia industry during which he has sold over £50m of unique items, helping build collections for Royalty, household name celebrities and 1,000s of collectors around the world.
Adrian was previously a Director at Stanley Gibbons, a Board Member of Stampex, and Executive Director of Paul Fraser Collectibles, PFC Auctions and JustCollecting, prior to founding The Memorabilia Club.