June 6 marked the 40th anniversary of the death of Robert F. Kennedy. While political collectibles related to his life may not be as prevalent as those of his presidential brother, collectors always find things related to the Kennedy family interesting.

Authentic political memorabilia featuring RFK first came on the scene in the early 1960s, when Kennedy was campaign manager for his brother John’s race to the White House. One of the earliest and most recognized of was a photo taken in 1960 by Life Magazine photographer Hank Walker on the evening of the Democratic Convention in a Los Angeles hotel suite. It pictured John and Bobby in silhouette, facing each other as they sat and pondered their future. Today the famous image is still widely collected and is available as a photograph or poster for about $25.

After JFK was elected to the White House in 1961, he appointed his younger brother Bobby to be Attorney General. Between 1961 and 1963, Bobby crusaded against organized crime, championed the cause of civil rights and worked closely with his brother on the Cuban Missile Crisis. Vintage color or black and white professional portrait photographs from his days as Attorney General are plentiful, and glossy black and white pictures of Bobby interacting with people and speaking at civil right rallies are readily available to collectors for anywhere between $5 and $10. Postcards were also made that feature the same imagery. Recently a circa 1962 letter, written on official stationary from the Attorney General’s office with Kennedy’s signature “Bobby” sold for $485 on eBay.

When President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, Bobby was devastated. He continued on as Attorney General under Lyndon B. Johnson, but they did not get along well and disagreed over many important issues. During this time Bobby never seriously considered running for the vice presidency, although some supporters encouraged him to. Instead he decided to resign his position as Attorney General after nine months and run for the United States Senate from New York. President Johnson, who was relieved Bobby was not seeking the vice presidency, leant him support in his campaign. Around this time, one of the first of many political buttons made its appearance. It featured the faces of LBJ and RFK, side by side, in red, white and blue. Although these “coat tail” campaign buttons are not rare, they do reflect a crucial time in the political life of Robert Kennedy. Depending on condition, they range in price from $10 to $20.

During his 1964 senatorial campaign, a French press photographer snapped hundreds of black and white pictures of RFK with his family, attending rallies and addressing crowds of supporters. There were also pictures of Bobby at parties with friends and movie stars. Years ago a Swedish dealer purchased the negatives and reprinted the photographs. Recently more than 300 of these pictures, along with the original negatives, were sold on eBay for $199. Other Senatorial memorabilia from the campaign include “Kennedy for US Senator” campaign buttons, as well as ephemera ranging from magazine articles, to pamphlets and fliers.

As Senator, RFK became a champion for the cause of civil rights, with a focus on Native Americans and other impoverished minority groups. He helped start a successful redevelopment project in dangerous, inner city Brooklyn. He visited the poverty stricken regions of the Mississippi Delta and became a forthright opponent of the Vietnam War. Kennedy’s ideals and convictions for equality aligned him with Martin Luther King and other outspoken leaders of the civil rights movement. His principals regarding the banishment of poverty in the world’s wealthiest nation were embraced by the suffering. His belief that the bloodshed in Vietnam should cease was eagerly embraced by young and old alike.

On March 16, 1968, Senator Bobby Kennedy announced his candidacy for the presidency and was immediately thrust into the political limelight. Pin back buttons in a wide variety of styles were produced. Patriotic themes featuring RFK’s image in red, white and blue, with stars and stripes, appealed to main line Democrats across America. Modern-looking slogan buttons with messages like, Sock it to ’em Bobby and Viva Kennedy appealed to younger voters and minorities. A flasher button, which showed two different images depending upon the angle it was viewed, was also made. In black and white it read: Kennedy for a Better America and also changed to show Bobby’s image. While most of the presidential campaign buttons range in value from $5 to $20, there was one rare button that sold on eBay this spring for $225; it featured RFK in red letters on a white background. The sellers were delighted with the auction results and explained they had discovered the pin in a box lot they purchased at auction.

Presidential campaign posters featuring Bobby’s image in both portrait and caricature made their appearance, as well as posters that represented pop culture. The most famous “mod” poster was designed by Mortimar during the spring of 1968 for a concert sponsored by Students for Kennedy at the Los Angeles Sports Arena on May 24. Originally in black and yellow, it featured three images of Kennedy’s face and the names of two prominent African Americans, pro football star Roosevelt Greer and gospel singer Mahalia Jackson. Both Greer and Jackson had ties to the Kennedys; Mahalia sang at JFK’s inauguration and Roosevelt was one of Bobby’s body guards. Musicians touted on the poster were pop-duo Sonny and Cher and The Byrds — famous for their folk rock rendition of the song Turn, Turn, Turn. The original concert poster is rare and valuable with examples selling in the $750 - $1000 range, but reproductions in orange and black can be found for $10.

Ephemera from the spring of 1968 is plentiful as every major magazine ran feature stories on RFK and his politics, personal life and aspirations. Lots of campaign stuff has also survived and recently surfaced in anticipation that the 40th anniversary of Kennedy’s assassination would generate interest. Campaign ballots, fliers, door hangers, postcards and bumper stickers can be found all over the Internet. According to several political dealers, business in authentic Kennedy memorabilia has picked up during the last few months. However, it seems that memorial items produced in great number after his death do not have as much appeal.

Shortly after midnight on June 5, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy received word at campaign headquarters in Los Angeles that he had won the California Democratic Primary. In the Embassy Ballroom of the Ambassador Hotel, he gave a moving victory speech to the crowd of supporters that had gathered to celebrate with him. As he was exiting the ballroom through a pantry corridor, he was shot three times by a 24-year-old Jordanian immigrant, Sirhan Sirhan, who was upset over Kennedy’s support of Israel during the 1967 Six Day War.

The nation was shocked in disbelief as they watched history repeat itself . Within hours PRAY FOR BOBBY bumper stickers appeared on the streets of Los Angeles and a prayer vigil was kept by devoted supporters outside Good Samaritan Hospital where doctors tried unsuccessfully to save him. On June 6, Robert Francis Kennedy died at the age of 42, leaving behind his pregnant wife and 10 children, his extended family and thousands of people who had put their faith and hope in him.