While not explicitly documented, the items in this lot are attributed by the consignor as being formerly of the estate of noted FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. 1) A fine grey felt Panama style hat, wide brimmed (2 3/4 inch) with a black ribbon band around the crown. The interior is white rayon lined with a brown leather sweatband, bearing a "7 1/2" size tag, "Knox Twenty" maker's marks and "Raleigh-Haberdasher/Washington" on the sweatband. Raleigh was a noted supplier of high-end items in Washington D.C. With a Mallory-brand hatbox, with hand-written notes on the exterior related to the contents. Vintage photographs show Hoover wearing similar hats. 2) Cardboard folio, "Place Mats by Famous Artists", with four that have been customized with pictures of horses, named "Speed Hoover", "F.B.Eye" and "Director J.E."; no data was found on Speed Hoover, but F.B. Eye is recorded as a race horse foaled in 1941 and active c. 1945-1946, and Director J.E. was the foal of noted British thoroughbred Sickle, active about the same time. Also in the folio is a matted photograph of J. Edgar Hoover with a number of his top subordinates (with a typed note on the backing identifying the participants and dating the picture to February 1954), a photocopy image of Director Hoover and correspondence from Richard Mohr, DDS, son of John Mohr, the FBI Special Agent regarded as the #3 man in the Bureau during Hoover's tenure. 3) Globe-Wernicke brand "#83c" hardwood case containing a variety of small pins and badges. Most of the contents relate to thoroughbred racing such as a "J.E.H." marked 1958 Thoroughbred Racing Association pin, though among them are some small Boy Scout themed lapel pins, an International Association of Chiefs of Police pin dated 1960 with "Compliments of Charles Greenblatt" (New York police equipment vendor) on the back, and a hallmarked 10kt gold Arlington Park/Washington Park pin. Hoover was a noted fan of the horses, though his detractors have suggested that some of his wins at the track were less about luck and more about back-room arrangements. 4) Esterbrook brand dip pen with "Dip-Less" ink well. The pen is clear acrylic and black plastic construction, with a "9688" numbered nib. The well is black bakelite construction with a glass top. In addition to being popular with illustrators like Carl Banks and Charles Schultz, Esterbrook pens were also used to sign a great deal of legislation, including many of Johnson's "Great Society" programs and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 5) FBI themed paperweight, with a green felt lining on the black plastic base, featuring a "FED. BUR. INV" marked Great Seal on a raised brass/plastic platform surrounded by 5 deactivated 38 caliber pistol cartridges. 6) German made silver finished "Ritter-Citro" lemon wedge squeezer.

1) The hat is excellent. The hat box is showing its age and appears to have protected the hat from some hard hits, particularly on the lid. 2) Good overall; the folio shows some wear and tear but has done a good job of protecting the contents, and the Hoover staff photo has the backing detached from the matting but is generally good. The horse place mats have yellowed with age but are good overall. 3) Very good, with mild wear and handling marks. 4) Good overall, with some chipping on the well and some scuffs and stains on the pen. The nib appears to be in good order. No ink is included. 5) Very good, with some light wear. 6) Very good, with a mixed aged patina.