Alan Gonick spent about $6,000 at the Amesbury auction of John F. Kennedy memorabilia last month. Among the lots the Haverhill dentist bought were a letter Kennedy signed while serving as a senator and a press pass that belonged to the late Dave Powers, whose collection of keepsakes of his best friend, the 35th president, comprised the sale at John McInnis  Auctioneers.

For the small auction house, the event was an unprecedented success, with a full house in attendance on a snowy February Sunday and hundreds of bidders from across the globe staying on the phones and online until 5 the following morning.