Barack Obama’s personal chair from his 2008 Presidential campaign bus has soared above its estimate in an online auction.
An RR Auction sale offered a pair of reclining chairs from Obama’s bus, in which he travelled across America on his way to his historic victory.
The two black leather reclining armchairs were both embroidered with the “Obama ‘08” logo in blue thread, and “President” in white.
They were offered along with a letter of provenance from Glenn Childress, the lead bus driver of the 2008 Obama campaign, who recalled the President using the chairs throughout the campaign:
“In 2008, I had the privilege of serving as the lead driver for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign after I drove for the John Edwards campaign…
“Obama conducted a considerable amount of campaign business from the chair…including preparing for speeches, discussing the campaign, receiving briefings, sharing light hearted moments with his staff, and taking/making important phone calls…
“Obama also used the chair as a place to relax during long road trips between campaign stops. Today, if I sat down in the chairs and closed my eyes, I could still see Barack sitting in his chair…as we cruised through this beautiful country on the way to the presidency.”
The two chairs were initially expected to sell for around $6,000, but together fetched a final price of $28,500 (including buyer’s premium).
The RR Auction sale featured a wealth of political memorabilia relating to U.S presidents, spanning the length of U.S history.
The sale’s most valuable lot was a lengthy handwritten letter by George Washington, dated April 16, 1798, in which he talks about the ‘XYZ Affair’ – a diplomatic episode which led to an undeclared war between America and France. Signed and sent from Washington’s famous home Mount Vernon, the exceptional letter sold for $61,930 (inc. buyer’s premium).
There was also a notable sale for a partially printed, signed letter written as President by Abraham Lincoln, which sold for $16,140.
