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Case Closed: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK by Gerald Posner (Signed First Edition, Second Printing), 1993 🇺🇸🔫🕵️‍♂️

Case Closed: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK by Gerald Posner (Signed First Edition, Second Printing), 1993 🇺🇸🔫🕵️‍♂️

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1. Introduction 📜🔍🏛️

This is a rare, signed first edition, second printing of Case Closed: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK by American investigative journalist Gerald Posner. Published in 1993 by Random House, this book is a significant work that meticulously argues Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

This book is a tangible link to a pivotal moment in American history. It is a premier acquisition for any serious library because of its:

  • Signed first edition status, representing a critical period of American journalism.

  • Meticulously researched and extensively cited content.

  • Factual importance as a work that systematically dismantles many alternative theories and conspiracy claims.

 


2. About the Book 📖✍️✨

Case Closed is a meticulously researched work that challenges decades of popular conspiracy theories about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Posner systematically analyzes the evidence, witness testimonies, and forensic data to conclude that Lee Harvey Oswald was the sole assassin.

The book is a cornerstone of assassination research, serving as a model for historical analysis. It includes:

  • A comprehensive account of Oswald's tormented life, from his emotionally disturbed youth to his defection to the Soviet Union.

  • A detailed analysis of the evidence, including forensic, ballistic, and eyewitness accounts.

  • A direct, no-nonsense argument against the vast number of conspiracy theories that had emerged in the thirty years following the assassination.

 


3. About the Artist/Author/Maker ✍️🏛️✨

Gerald Posner is an American investigative journalist and author known for his in-depth research. He is the author of thirteen books, including a biography of Josef Mengele and a book on the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.

A former Wall Street lawyer, Posner's work is characterized by his use of legal and journalistic principles to conduct thorough investigations. He was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for this book and was praised by fellow historian Stephen Ambrose, who called it a "great service" to the field of historical research.

 


4. Historical/Political Era Context 🌍🕰️📜

Published in 1993, this book emerged on the 30th anniversary of the JFK assassination, a time of renewed public interest and a growing number of conspiracy theories. The book’s publication reflects a widespread desire for a new, in-depth investigation into the event, using new evidence and computer enhancement of film and evidence.

This book is a "time capsule" of late 20th-century American social and political thought. It captures the spirit of an era when a nation was grappling with a tragic event, and it provides a direct, factual argument against the conspiracy theories that had captivated the public imagination for decades.

 


5. The Ideal Collector 💡🧐🏛️

This book is intended for a curator of American social history, a scholar of the JFK assassination, or a private collector of unique signed artifacts. It is an ideal acquisition for an individual who values a book's intellectual significance and its documented provenance.

The author's signature makes this a perfect fit for a collection that cherishes the intimate story behind an artifact. The book appeals to a collector who is interested in the intersection of:

  • American history and journalism.

  • The JFK assassination, and the ways in which a nation grappled with a tragic event.

  • The debate between conspiracy and factual analysis.

 


6. Value & Rarity 💎✨🏛️

As a rare, signed first edition, second printing from 1993, this book is a uniquely scarce asset. The value is a direct reflection of the book's rarity, its historical significance, and its condition for an item of its age. The book's provenance is significantly enhanced by a personal signature from the author, Gerald Posner.

The book's worth is enhanced by:

  • Verifiable Provenance: The book has a personal signature from the author, which adds to its authenticity.

  • Historical Context: This book is a primary source for understanding the JFK assassination, and it was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, which adds to its literary legacy and market value.

  • Author's Acclaim: The book drew critical acclaim from prominent figures and journalists, and was optioned for a television miniseries, which further enhances its historical value.

 


7. Condition 🔎📚✨

This copy is a well-preserved piece, showing authentic wear consistent with its age from the late 20th century. The binding is a hardcover with a dust jacket, which shows visible wear, including rubbing and creasing. The pages remain clear and readable.

  • Binding: The book is a hardcover with a tan cloth binding and gilt lettering. The pages are clean and free of any marks or stains. The binding is tight and sound.

  • Dust Jacket: The dust jacket shows visible wear and tear, including rubbing and scuffing, and a price tag of $25.00 on the front flap. The jacket has some small tears, but the text and photographs are clear and readable.

  • Interior: The pages are clean and free of any marks or stains. The binding is tight and sound.

  • Signature: The book has a personal signature from the author, Gerald Posner, in blue ink on the front endpaper.

 


8. The Outcome of Lee Harvey Oswald 🔫💀

Lee Harvey Oswald, the man accused of assassinating President John F. Kennedy, was never formally prosecuted for the crime.

  • The Shooting: Oswald was shot and killed by local nightclub owner Jack Ruby on November 24, 1963, while being transferred from the city jail to the county jail. The shooting was broadcast live on television, and millions of people witnessed it.

  • The Autopsy: An autopsy was performed on Oswald, and the county medical examiner concluded that he died from a hemorrhage from a gunshot wound.

  • The Burial: Oswald was buried in a Fort Worth cemetery on November 25, 1963. Reporters covering the burial were asked to act as pallbearers.

 


9. US House Select Committee on Assassinations 🏛️📜

The United States House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) was established in 1976 to investigate the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

  • Conclusions on Oswald: The committee largely concurred with the Warren Commission's findings that Oswald fired three shots at Kennedy, and that he was the sole assassin.

  • Contradictory Evidence: Late in its proceedings, a dictabelt recording was introduced, and after a flawed analysis, the HSCA revised its findings to assert a "high probability that at least two gunmen fired at the President," which sparked decades of controversy. The acoustic evidence was later widely discredited by a panel of scientists.

  • Criticism of Agencies: The HSCA was critical of the FBI and CIA for not revealing all available information to the Warren Commission, accusing them of "organizational failures, miscommunication, and a desire to keep certain parts of their operations secret."

 


10. Fun Facts & Unique Features 🤓📜🤩

  • Case Closed was a New York Times bestseller and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for History.

  • The book was optioned for a television miniseries by David L. Wolper, the producer of the miniseries Roots, but he considered his failure to get the movie made one of his two major career disappointments.

  • The book received endorsements from prominent figures, including historian Robert Dallek and fellow historian Stephen Ambrose, who called it a "great service" to the field of historical research.

  • Posner himself testified before a United States House Committee about the findings in Case Closed.

  • In 2009, a computer scientist concluded that the backyard photos of Oswald with the rifle were "almost certainly not altered," further supporting the book's thesis.

  • A Gallup poll released in 2013 showed that the number of Americans who believed Oswald was a lone assassin was the highest in 46 years, which is a direct reflection of the book's influence.

 


11. Supporting Information 🏷️📦💰

  • Title: Case Closed: Lee Harvey Oswald and the Assassination of JFK

  • Author/Maker: Gerald Posner

  • Year: 1993

  • Publisher/Foundry: Random House

  • Place of Origin: New York, NY, USA

  • Format/Binding: Hardcover with Dust Jacket

  • Edition: First Edition, Second Printing, Signed

  • Rarity: Rare with Inscription

  • Transcription:

    [Signature of Gerald Posner]

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