President Harry Truman's Monogrammed Pocket Watch, Pocket Knife & Stetson Hat -- Gifted by Truman to His Secret Service Agent

Item Date:

ca. 1950

Object name(s):

personal items

Catalog ID:

-

Description:

President Harry S. Truman’s personally-owned monogrammed chiming pocket watch, pocket knife, and Stetson hat, all gifted by Truman to his Secret Service agent Byron Ludwig Smith Jr. Lot includes:
(1) Stunning gold-tone Beaumont brand pocket watch, monogrammed with Truman’s initials ”HTS” on the back cover. Functional manual winding watch features a second hand, a chiming mechanism, and elegant roman numerals. Measures 2” in diameter and 2.5” including the bow. In a Diamant’s of Kansas City, MO box. Light rubbing, but overall near fine.
(2) Pocket knife, connected to the watch by a chain with a removable clasp. Gold-tone pocket knife features a folding knife and small pair of scissors. Measures 2.625” long. Also near fine with light rubbing.
(3) Truman’s personally worn Stetson hat, reflecting the President’s signature style, who especially liked to wear his Stetson hat on his morning walks. Hat is size 7 3/8, with leather band embossed ”Made by Stetson especially for Harry S. Truman”. Handsome light brown hat features beige grosgrain band and maroon silk lining. Near fine condition.
Lot is accompanied by an LOA signed by Smith’s daughter, as well as a copy of Smith’s Secret Service badge, a newspaper clipping of Smith with First Lady Bess Truman at President Truman’s funeral, and a newspaper clipping reporting on Bess Truman attending Smith’s funeral. A fantastic lot of very personal items belonging to President Truman, reflecting his signature style.

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Category (or Department):