This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/24/lee-harvey-oswald-wedding-ring-jfk-auction

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Lee Harvey Oswald's wedding ring up for sale in JFK-linked auction Lee Harvey Oswald's wedding ring up for sale in JFK-linked auction
(about 2 hours later)
On the morning of 22 November 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald left his wedding ring in a cup on the dresser and $170 in one of its drawers before he headed for work at the Texas School Book Depository. On the morning of 22 November 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald left his wedding ring in a cup on the dresser and $170 in one of its drawers before he headed to work at the Texas School Book Depository.
The gold band that belonged to the man who assassinated President John F Kennedy later that day is among nearly 300 items linked to the former president that will go up for auction on Thursday in Boston. The gold band that belonged to the man who assassinated President John F Kennedy later that day is among nearly 300 items linked to the former president that will go up for auction on Thursday in Boston.
Bobby Livingston, of New Hampshire-based RR Auction, described the ring, which has a tiny hammer and sickle engraved on the inside of the band, as a "very powerful, significant piece of evidence".Bobby Livingston, of New Hampshire-based RR Auction, described the ring, which has a tiny hammer and sickle engraved on the inside of the band, as a "very powerful, significant piece of evidence".
"It gives you such insight into the mind of Lee Harvey Oswald," said Livingston, who added that the ring could fetch $100,000 or more."It gives you such insight into the mind of Lee Harvey Oswald," said Livingston, who added that the ring could fetch $100,000 or more.
It was relatively recently that the seller, Oswald's widow, Marina Oswald Porter, recovered the ring, which apparently sat forgotten for decades in the files of a Fort Worth lawyer who once did work for her. It was relatively recently that the seller, Oswald's widow, Marina Oswald Porter, recovered the ring, which had apparently been sitting forgotten for decades in the files of a Fort Worth lawyer who once did work for her.
With the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's assassination in downtown Dallas coming up in November, the auction house has gathered items ranging from Kennedy's rosary beads and clothing items, to Oswald's US Marine Corps rifle score book and a hat worn by Jack Ruby, the nightclub owner who killed Oswald two days after Kennedy's assassination.With the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's assassination in downtown Dallas coming up in November, the auction house has gathered items ranging from Kennedy's rosary beads and clothing items, to Oswald's US Marine Corps rifle score book and a hat worn by Jack Ruby, the nightclub owner who killed Oswald two days after Kennedy's assassination.
Accompanying the ring is a five-page handwritten letter dated 5 May 2013, in which Porter writes: "At this time of my life I don't wish to have Lee's ring in my possession because symbolically I want to let go of my past that is connecting with Nov 22, 1963."Accompanying the ring is a five-page handwritten letter dated 5 May 2013, in which Porter writes: "At this time of my life I don't wish to have Lee's ring in my possession because symbolically I want to let go of my past that is connecting with Nov 22, 1963."
At her request, the auction house is not releasing the full contents of the letter, in which Porter documents the history of the ring, from its purchase in the Soviet city of Minsk, Belarus, before their wedding on 30 April 1961, to how it was left on the dresser at her friend Ruth Paine's home, where she and their children were living when Kennedy was killed. Oswald, who lived during the week in a rooming house near downtown Dallas, usually only visited on the weekend. At her request, the auction house is not releasing the full contents of the letter, in which Porter documents the history of the ring, from its purchase in the Soviet city of Minsk, Belarus, before their wedding on 30 April 1961, to how it was left on the dresser at her friend Ruth Paine's home, where she and their children were living when Kennedy was killed. Oswald, who lived during the week in a rooming house near downtown Dallas, usually only visited at the weekend.
The ring took a circuitous route from the dresser to being offered at auction. In 2004, it was discovered in the files of a Fort Worth lawyer who once did work for Porter. It was in an envelope marked "Treasury Department Secret Service", with a receipt stating that Paine gave it to the secret service on 2 December 1963. The ring took a circuitous route from the dresser to the auction house. In 2004, it was discovered in the files of a Fort Worth lawyer who once did work for Porter. It was in an envelope marked "Treasury Department Secret Service", with a receipt stating that Paine gave it to the secret service on 2 December 1963.
A July 2012 letter from the Fort Worth law firm of Brackett & Ellis to Porter says the ring had apparently been in lawyer Forrest Markward's possession since 1964.A July 2012 letter from the Fort Worth law firm of Brackett & Ellis to Porter says the ring had apparently been in lawyer Forrest Markward's possession since 1964.
Luke Ellis, a partner at the firm, said when the ring was discovered, the retired Markward couldn't recall exactly how it came into his possession. Markward has since died. Luke Ellis, a partner at the firm, said when the ring was discovered, the retired Markward could not recall exactly how it came into his possession. Markward has since died.
Also up for auction on Thursday are a white Lincoln Continental that the president and first lady rode in hours before his death, as well as the sixth-floor window believed to have served as Oswald's sniper perch, which the building's owner removed in the weeks after the attack.Also up for auction on Thursday are a white Lincoln Continental that the president and first lady rode in hours before his death, as well as the sixth-floor window believed to have served as Oswald's sniper perch, which the building's owner removed in the weeks after the attack.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.