Large 10-7/8x13-7/8" high contrast artistic photo on 14x18" beige matboard signed on lower border by JFK to well known photographer who took the photo: "To Jay Spencer - with every good wish - John Kennedy" using black ink and a steel tip fountain pen. The inscription is just over 7.5" in length. In addition, on the board's reverse at upper left is red ink stamp "MIAMI NEWS PHOTO BY JAY SPENCER." This item came from the personal collection of this long-time and well known photographer. JFK is on a riser at a dinner with flowers on his right and the side of a speaker's podium on his left. He is smiling broadly as he prepares to strike a match to light the cigar clenched in his teeth - quite possibly his favorite Petit Upmann made by H. Upmann in Cuba. There is a great story told by Pierre Salinger (available on the Internet) about the President requesting 1000 of these cigars. When Salinger successfully delivered 1200 cigars the next day, Kennedy pulled from his desk drawer and signed the document banning the future import of Cuban products. To submit the signature for evaluation, the board had to be removed from its original generic frame (not included). Thus the narrow outer edge (under .25") of the board is a bit less age toned than the normal even tone on the rest of the board. On the right margin, opposite JFK's left hand, is a horizontal hairline ripple 1.5" long on the board's surface paper. At the lower right, a quarter inch below the photo's edge, is a light tan 1/16" dot. On the reverse, there is natural tanning of the board plus an area with some darker dots mostly at left center edge within a 2x2" area. The age traces are very minor. The photo itself and JFK's inscription are essentially flawless. An exceptionally large and most appealing combination of photo, inscription and provenance. Comes with James Spence LOA with specific certification number as well as Hake's COA.