[Presidential] Eisenhower, Dwight D. Signed Illuminated Prayer Leaf

No place, no date (but after 1952). Illuminated prayer leaf on vellum, titled "The President's Prayer", signed by Dwight D. Eisenhower. Illuminated in gold, red, blue, and green by Miriam Koller Williams, signed at bottom left. Inscription on verso, "Our Christmas Gift To Your Lovely Church. Dr. & Mrs. H. Gilbert Williams Haddonfield, N.J." Vellum lightly soiled; some paint chipping to sections of illumination. 13 1/2 x 10 3/4 in. (343 x 273 mm).

A finely decorated prayer leaf signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower with the text of his Presidential Prayer, given during his first inaugural address, on January 20, 1953.

A deeply religious figure, Eisenhower placed faith at the center of his presidency, and during his two terms in office helped shape a national religious revival that saw the rise of modern Evangelical Christianity. Although raised a Mennonite, Eisenhower was baptized into the National Presbyterian Church, of which his wife Mamie belonged, only ten days into his presidency. The religious tone of his leadership would have lasting effects on American politics, and he is remembered for the implementation of several religious features in his governance, including the opening of cabinet meetings with prayer, initiating the National Prayer Breakfast, tapping evangelist Billy Graham as a spiritual advisor, and supporting and signing into law both the inclusion of “Under God” to the Pledge of Allegiance, in June 1954, and the adoption of “In God We Trust” as the national motto, in 1956.

Lot also includes another illuminated leaf by the same artist, featuring a verse from the first letter of Timothy.

This lot is located in Philadelphia.

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Darren Winston, Senior Vice President at Freeman’s, has served as Head of Department for Books & Manuscripts, Philadelphia, since 2018. He has been a trustee of the Rosenbach Museum and Library since 2022, is a member of The Manuscript Society, The Bibliographical Society of America, and Philadelphia’s Philobiblon Club.

Raised in northern New Jersey, Darren moved to New York City in 1988 and began his career there as a bookseller in 1995. He spent the next 18 years selling to private clients and at East Coast book fairs. In 2003 he moved with his young family to Sharon, Connecticut where, in 2009, he opened his own bookshop. Darren Winston, Bookseller offered rare and vintage books, prints, fine art, and more, and hosted over 50 book signings and art shows. He was a trustee and, later, Board President, of the Sharon Historical Society, and for six years a trustee of Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, Connecticut.

Darren has hosted the radio program "Darren Winston's Book Report" for NPR-affiliate WHDD since 2009, appeared in the 2014 book-themed documentary The Paper Trail, and in 2024 he joined Antiques Roadshow as a books and manuscripts appraiser. From 1999 to 2005, Darren was the buyer and consultant to the Fine and Rare Books Department at Asprey, the British luxury goods company, at its New York headquarters. While there he spearheaded various in-store events including readings by Salman Rushdie and Dominick Dunne.

In 1993, Darren was hired as a Creative Consultant to Columbia Records, where he assisted in the repackaging of their 12-record Aerosmith back catalogue. He later sold his extensive collection of Aerosmith memorabilia, which he began amassing at the age of 14, directly to the band.

Darren now lives on the Main Line, outside Philadelphia, with his wife, two children, and dog. The family travels frequently to his wife's native England and Scotland. When not bookselling, he plays guitar in Pumped, an Aerosmith tribute band. Darren also appears on the top-rated PBS television program Antiques Roadshow.

Books and Manuscripts

[Presidential] Eisenhower, Dwight D. Signed Illuminated Prayer Leaf

Books and Manuscripts

[Presidential] Eisenhower, Dwight D. Signed Illuminated Prayer Leaf

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