The Torch Is Passed Associated Press Commemorative Hardcover Appraisal

The Torch is Passed... (Associated Press Commemorative Hardcover)

This is a large-format hardcover book titled 'The Torch is Passed...', published by the Associated Press in 1963. The item measures approximately 10 by 13 inches and is bound in a deep burgundy or maroon buckram cloth with a distinct woven texture. The front cover features the title title debossed in gold-gilt cursive script positioned towards the lower third of the boards. This specific commemorative volume was produced shortly after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and focuses on his life, his death, and the transition of power to Lyndon B. Johnson. The physical condition of this example reveals significant wear: most notably, there is a large rectangular area of loss and fraying at the top-left corner of the spine/front hinge, exposing the underlying cardboard binder's board. There is additional visible scuffing and minor white residue marks on the upper-right quadrant of the cover. Despite these condition issues, the gold lettering remains largely intact. The craftsmanship reflects typical mass-produced quality of the mid-20th century, designed as a lasting photographic memorial for a wide public audience.