Looking for a unique – if expensive – Christmas gift for that certain someone who seemingly has everything?
How about a piece of American history?
A pair of Teddy Roosevelt’s signature glasses, a rocking chair preferred by John F. Kennedy, and Harry Truman’s poker table are all part of an U.S. Presidents-themed auction hosted by Heritage Auctions.
The Texas-based auction house offers this description of Roosevelt’s eyeglasses:
“Scarce and iconic pair of pince-nez eyeglasses with carrying case worn by President Teddy Roosevelt. Measuring 3.875 x 2.25 inches, these style eyeglasses were a large part of Roosevelt’s signature look and come in their original brown leather case stamped in gilt, ‘Franklin & Co. Opticians, 1203 F. St., Washington, D.C.’”
While tracking online bidding Wednesday afternoon, the price for Roosevelt’s specs steadily increased from $12,000 to $15.5K in a matter of hours. The auction is set to close Thursday, December 1.
Roosevelt’s glasses are the latest pair of celebrity eyewear to hit the auction block of late. During separate auctions in New York recently, a pair of John Lennon’s iconic specs went for an astounding $162,500 and a winning bid of $27,000 secured a pair of author Joan Didion’s sunglasses made by Celine.
UAB Hosting Eyecare Event
The University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Optometry currently is hosting its ninth annual Gift of Sight event through Friday, December 2.
UAB Community Eye Care is coordinating the event, which provides eye exams and glasses to low-income or underinsured individuals.
Co-sponsors of the event include: VSP Insurance, Remote Area Medical and Changing Lives Through Lenses.
According to the university, “UAB Community Eye Care provides eye exams at little to no cost to thousands of patients throughout the year at the Western Health Center in Midfield, homeless shelters, outreach centers, reentry programs, and women’s and children’s shelters.”
Fake ‘Eye Doctor’ Behind Bars
A Wisconsin man is in jail for practicing optometry without a license.
Again.
FOX6 out of Milwaukee reports that Lee Hagopian has pretended to be an optometrist on numerous occasions dating back to at least 2015.
Kenosha County officials charged and convicted Hagopian in 2021 for practicing optometry without a license. However, that apparently hasn’t stopped him from continuing to conducting illegal eye exams.
In speaking with FOX6, Peter Theo, of the Wisconsin Optometric Association, said “There is nothing routine about an eye exam.”
An alleged victim who wished to remain anonymous had this to say: “He’s messing with people’s eyesight. I mean, we only have two eyes.”
We couldn’t agree more with these two apt quotes.
Hagopian had turned himself in to authorities in September. Current charges against him include conducting illegal eye exams, theft, and bail jumping. His next court date is set for Jan. 13.