By LARRY LeMASTERS
AntiqueWeek Correspondent

Memorabilia is often valued based on its historical significance. Where memorabilia differs from antiques is in its age. Take, for example, presidential collections. All items related to U.S. presidents are collectible, regardless of how old the item is or even if the item refers to a sitting president or not, which is why political collectors actively seek all things related to presidents.
One of the more intriguing presidents to collect is Gerald Rudolph Ford (born Leslie Lynch King Jr.), the 40th Vice President of the United Sates and the 38th President of the United States. Ford remains the only person who was never elected to either office.

While most presidential collectibles focus on the man’s time in office, Gerald Ford collectibles often begin with his youth at the University of Michigan.
Ford remains the greatest athlete to become president. He played center and linebacker for Michigan’s national championship football teams. He also boxed and played golf.

And Ford turned down professional contract offers from the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers football teams, believing his destiny lay elsewhere. Sports and presidential collectors both search for a Topps Legacy Series Gerald Ford trading card, which is valued at $300.

While attending Yale’s School of Law, Ford served as the school’s boxing coach, assistant varsity football coach, and JV cheerleading teacher.

Shortly after Ford graduated from law school, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, and Ford enlisted in the Navy, receiving a commission as ensign. Ford served as the assistant navigator and antiaircraft battery officer on board the USS Monterey from May 1943 until December 1944, rising to full Lieutenant grade.

Following the war, Ford ran for political office and was elected, in 1948, as a member of the House of Representatives, for Michigan. He held this office for the next 25 years.

President Lyndon Johnson appointed Gerald Ford to the Warren Commission, the special task force that investigated the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Douglas Brinkley (author of Gerald R. Ford; Times Books, 2007), called Ford “the accidental president” whose innate decency restored the presidency after its greatest crisis. Brinkley believes that Ford pardoned Nixon, an act that outraged many Americans, solely because Ford thought the pardon was necessary to move the nation forward. Many thought that Ford sold out America by cutting a deal with Nixon — the presidency in exchange for the pardon, but it should be noted that Nixon also relied on Ford’s character and decency and trusted Ford, regardless of some of the reasons why, to keep his word.

Still, copies of this infamous pardon are highly collectible today and are some of the most sought after Ford collectibles. A copy of the pardon, with Ford’s signature, is valued at more than $4,000.

Ford’s signature on original documents is valued much higher. Letters signed by Ford, years after his presidency ended, now sell for about $8,000. And a presidential document signed by Ford, commenting on his pardon of Nixon, was recently offered on eBay for nearly $20,000.

Book collectors seek a signed, first edition copy of Ford’s autobiography, A Time To Heal, which sells for between $450 - $1,100 depending on the seller.
Numismatics look for Gerald Ford commemorative coins, including his 1974 Inaugural Medal, which is nearly pure silver and valued at $210.

Another popular Ford coin is the 14k gold coin “38th President of the US” token, minted in 1979 before his death, showing his birth year (1913) only. This token is valued at $135.

As with most presidents, political collectors love pinback buttons. One of Ford’s most expensive pinbacks is his 1974 “Better idea” button. Showing a football-playing elephant, this colorful pin originally sold for 29 cents but is valued at $150 today.

The list of Gerald Ford collectibles is long. Some of the collectibles are cheesy, like the 1977 issued Gerald Ford $1million bill ($2), and some, like the Gerald R. Ford Council Boy Scout merit badge from 1997 are inexpensive but classy ($3). However, the majority of Ford collectibles are inexpensive and simply pay tribute to the athlete, scholar, lawyer, and Congressman who became the “accidental” 38th President of the United States.

Honored as Michigan’s favorite son, the Gerald R. Ford Museum is located in Grand Rapids, Mich. And the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library is located in Ann Arbor, Mich.