In pictures: JFK under the hammer

1 of 7 About 600 items from the homes of former US President John F Kennedy and his wife Jackie raised $5.5m (nearly £3m) when they were auctioned by Sotheby's on Thursday.

2 of 7 The sale in New York, the second from the estate of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, raised more than five times the expected total.

3 of 7 The items came from the Kennedys' holiday homes in Hyannis Port and Martha's Vineyard, as well as their private quarters in the White House.

4 of 7 Some lots had pre-sale estimates of as little as $200 - but once the auction got under way, bidding soared because of the cachet of the Kennedy name.

5 of 7 Most items of historical significance were donated to the John F Kennedy Library Foundation. Some of the auction proceeds have gone to charity.

6 of 7 The property was put on sale by Caroline, daughter of John F Kennedy and Jackie, who said she had kept the things that meant most to her family.

7 of 7 The high-profile sale offered a rare glimpse into the home life of a family and political dynasty whose glamour had once captivated the world.