The Torch is Passed...

Archive relating to Ruth Paine, suspected accomplice of Lee Harvey Oswald. A rare archive from Ruth Paine: her copies of books and ephemera relating to John F. Kennedy's death and the subsequent hiding of Lee Harvey Oswald's rifle in her garage.

As part of his movements on that fateful day in 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly hid the rifle with which he had killed JFK in Ruth Paine's garage without her knowledge. Paine had become a friend of Marina, Lee Harvey Oswald's wife, as they moved in the same circles in Dallas, and had her over many a weekend. She was questioned by the Warren Commission in regards to her familiarity with Lee Harvey Oswald and his decision to leave the rifle at her house, answering over five thousand questions which was by far the most out of any witness called, and she was cleared of any suspicion.

She and Marina fell out, with Marina testifying that she had been advised by the secret services to stop associating with Paine because "she was sympathizing with the CIA", and never saw each other again after 1964. The postcard here reflects this estrangement with Paine mentioning that she is no longer in contact with Marina.

After the assassination Paine capitalised on her association with the tragedy, being interviewed by Mallon as well as other authors, and turned her house into a museum for visitors to come and see where the murder weapon had been unsuccessfully hidden. The signed brochure of the museum advertises the house as a "small suburban home... caught up in the whirlwind surrounding the tragedy". She charged $12 to all above the age of 12.

The teleprinter messages record headlines as they came through from reporters, and relate to the other evidence the police found of the rifle: of photos and slides of him holding the gun, and positive gunpowder residue tests. The large volume is a coffee table book, copiously illustrated, recounting the chronology of November 22nd and 23rd, largely covering the funeral of John F. Kennedy.

First edition [and] uncorrected proof copy; 4to (34 x 26) [and] 8vo (20.5 x 14 cm); signature of Ruth Paine to title of The Torch is Passed and brochure, bookplate of Ruth Paine to both volumes, ephemera all in fine condition; [The Torch is Passed] original publisher's cloth, gilt lettering to upper board and spine, extremities a little rubbed, in the scarce original dust-jacket and wraparound band, touch of creasing, still a very good copy; [Mrs. Paine's Garage] original orange wrappers bound in later cloth, with gilt lettering to upper board and spine, a fine copy.