This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/27/2026
Pen used by President Harry Truman on 16 June 1950 to sign H.R. 4567 into law, which increased the number of World War II refugees into the United States, and addressed the previous bias against Jewish refugees. Lot also includes a photo of President Truman signed and inscribed to Harry N. Rosenfield, Commissioner of the Displaced Persons Commission, formed after World War II to resettle European refugees.
H.R. 4567 is titled ''An Act to Amend the Displaced Persons Act of 1948'', which not only increased the number of immigrants to the United States from roughly 200,000 to 415,000 but also corrected the bias against Jewish persons that was in the original 1948 bill. As a result of both Acts, approximately 80,000 Jewish displaced persons were brought into the United States.
Pen is accompanied by a letter on White House stationery from Truman's secretary William D. Hassett to Rosenfield, gifting him the pen, an Esterbrook 2668 with ''The President - The White House'' on its barrel. Letter and pen are framed with a photo of the bill-signing, inscribed by Truman, ''Kind regards to Harry N. Rosenfield / Harry Truman''. Pen measures approximately 6.25'' including nib, photo measures 8'' x 6.375'' and letter measures 6'' x 7.5'' framed in a shadow box measuring 11.75'' x 19''. Very good to near fine condition.