Lot 312

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Description:

Oswald Personally Owned Russian Gold & Silver Shot Cup Referenced in Warren Report, Gifted by Marina. An Incredible Artifact!

Silver and gold toned cocktail measuring cup. 1.25" in diameter x 2" tall, housed in the original box. Gifted to Lee Harvey Oswald by his wife Marina, while she was on holiday in 1961. Marina had a personal inscription in Russian engraved on the cup to her husband, which translates to "To my Dear Husband on your birthday 18 - x - 61". The cup is housed in the original 3" x 4.5" box lined in orange silk and has the Russian inscription on the inside of the top cover of the box of "Ministry of Trade, Russia Jewelry Trade, PCΦCP". This cup is directly referenced in the Warren Report within the body of the letter from Exhibit No. 306, in which Lee Harvey Oswald states in a letter dated "Oct 22, 1961" that "she sent me a beauifill(sic) gold and silver cup with the insription(sic) 'To my Dear Husband on his birthday 18/X/61' Very Nice, Huh? She is sweet.". (The entire letter will be shown in full below for reference, and a photocopy of the letter will accompany the cup). The cup is in fine condition, the box is lightly rubbed and soiled. The cup is accompanied by an original signed letter of authenticity from Robert Oswald, Lee's brother who received the cup directly from Marina about one month after Oswald's death. The Robert Oswald signed letter additionally will be accompanied by several documents authenticating Robert's signature, and is also shown in entirety below. Provenance: From the collection of Ron Hoskins, assassinologist.

The letter written by Lee Harvey Oswald referencing this cup, was later used as evidence against him by the Warren Commission's investigation into the JFK assassination. Today it is now officially known as "Exhibit No. 306". Written by Oswald to his brother Robert L. Oswald, it was sent from Russia on 22 October 1961 during Oswald's defection. Uncorrected for errors it reads in full (we have underlined the sentence referencing the cup offered here):

''Dear Robert,

Well, Its been a month or more since I've written and also a long time since I've heard from you. Our deal about the exit Visa is still going on, something is holding it up, mostly about my wife since she is a Soviet citizen, but as I so [said], its hard to get out of this place, in general.

Marina is in the city of 'KHKob,' [Kharkov] about 600 miles South east of Minsk, on her vacation, she's living with her aunt [Palina Prusakova], we both agreed a change of senerey was good for her, she comes back on the 1st of November. 

From 'KHKob' she sent me a beauifill gold and silver cup with the insription 'To my Dear Husband on his birthday 18/V,/61' Very Nice, Huh? She is sweet. When is your birthday anyway sometime in July isn't it?

How are the kids?
How is Vada doing?

Did you get my last letter with some pictures of Minsk in it?

I think around New Years, if I'm still unlucky enough to be around here, I'll call you on the telephone O.K.?

Hows the hunting out at the farm? Still good I bet.

I got a letter from the Embassy the other day, they are keeping in touch as to developments with the exit visa.

Soon, on Nov. 7-8 the big revolution day holidays will come off. They'll be a lot of red flag waving and firworks like on the 4th of July in the States. Well, that's about all for now. Write Soon
Your brother Lee''

The important letter of authenticity is signed and dated 11/13/2017 by Robert Oswald and is shown below:

"…The cup dated 10-18-61 from Russia with Russian engraving was given to Lee Harvey Oswald by Marina Oswald for his birthday. Referenced letter written to me from Lee Harvey Oswald on 10-22-61. (Warren Commission Exhibit 306).

Marina Oswald gave me the cup in the original box in late December 1963 (I was aware of the cup from his letter but this was the first time that I had seen it in person). She said "Lee would want you to have it" and I asked her if she was sure and she said "yes". I thanked her for the cup.

It has been in my possession ever since that time, over 53 years in the original box…"

Documented Personal artifacts owned, and prized by Lee Harvey Oswald are extremely scarce. This piece has the coveted chain of custody coming originally from Lee Harvey Oswald's brother, Robert Oswald. In addition to his letter of authenticity, and just as important if not more so, the cup is directly referenced in an documented letter written by Lee to his brother Robert while Lee was in Russia, a letter which had enough importance to become an exhibit in the Warren Commission's investigation into the JFK assassination.

An outstanding piece with impeccable provenance

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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January 6, 2021 10:30 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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