Just months after he published the first novel written by a former president of the United States, President Jimmy Carter has painted the first known self-portrait by any president, and it will be among many exclusive items auctioned to benefit the Carter Center on Feb. 28 in Snowbird, Utah, at the center’s annual “Winter Weekend” auction.

The 40-by-30-inch oil painting, titled “Peace,” depicts the celebration of the historic Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty in 1978. Carter is shown shaking hands with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin on the White House lawn.

Also up for auction (both live and silent) at the Winter Weekend will be meetings with celebrities, land and sea vacations, collectible presidential memorabilia, and artwork ranging in value from $50 to $100,000. Sample selections:

• Lunch with the wry crew of “Car Talk,” the popular radio show.

• Two bottles of Carter’s homemade, private-label red wine.

• A baseball signed by President Carter and Cuban President Fidel Castro.

• Getaways to St. John (U.S. Virgin Islands), Mardi Gras and the Kentucky Derby.

• A Yamaha acoustic guitar signed by top music stars.

• A Harry Potter book signed and personalized by author J.K. Rowling.

• A program from Carter’s 1977 Inaugural Ball signed by more than 30 celebrities.

• Nobel Peace Prize collectibles.

• An original bust of President and Mrs. Carter.

Anyone is welcome to participate in the auctions by fax, phone or online. All silent and live auction items are available for online or faxed bids until 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Saturday, Feb. 28. If a remote bidder desires proxy representation in the live auction by Winter Weekend staff, or would like to be called when a particular item is up for bid, those arrangements can be made by contacting Dianne Bryant at either 404-420-5102 (phone) or 404-892-9438 (fax) until Feb. 24; or thereafter at 801-742-2025 (phone) or 801-742-2370 (fax) until midnight (Eastern time) on Feb. 27.

To view the silent auction catalog, visit www.cartercenter.com/silentauction/silentauction.asp. For the live auction catalog, visit www.cartercenter.com/silentauction/liveauction.asp.

Record bids at last year’s Winter Weekend were $275,000 for a walnut coffee table handmade by Carter; $165,000 for a baseball signed by Castro and Carter during the latter’s historic trip to Cuba in May 2002; $70,000 for a one-week vacation on a luxury yacht; and $65,000 for a photo of five presidents and six first ladies autographed by each of them.