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1. BETTS, Samuel Rossiter (1786-1868). Autograph Letter Signed.
This one-term wonder New York representative (1815-17) distinguished himself in jurisprudence, rising from the U.S. Army JAG corps to district attorney (1821-23) to New York State Supreme Court circuit judge (1823-26) to U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York federal judge (1826-67). ALS, 1p, 7½" X 9½", Bloomingburgh, NY, 1815 August 11. Addressed to L. Jenkins, an attorney in Albany. Very good. Interesting if somewhat cryptic letter regarding the case of Daniel Niven vs. Israel Gibbs. In part: "...will you examine the minutes of this Term & see what the judgt. of the court is.... I wish two certified copies of the bail piece in the above cause, to be processed & addressed to me by mail, without delay... I wish to get the bail piece back to Albany... in time to have one of the Judges endorse the exoneretur [sic] this Term...." An attractive piece, penned as a young man just prior to entering Congress, and worthy of further research.
Price: $95.00

2. BLATCHFORD, Samuel (1820-93). Signature.
This lawyer and jurist, son of noted jurist and commissioner of New York's Central Park Richard M. Blatchford, served on the U.S. Supreme Court from 1882 to 1893, and was known as a specialist in maritime and patent law. On a clean, lined 4" X 2½" slip, Blatchford pens, neatly and boldly: "Saml Blatchford, / Associate Justice of the / Supreme Court of the / United States, / March 12th, 1890." Fine. A superb and handsome example, complete with credentials.
Price: $95.00

3. BRADY, John R. (?-?). Signature and Salutation.
This New York Supreme Court Justice is remembered for the date of September 20, 1881 -- when he went to a residence at 123 Lexington Avenue in New York City to swear in Chester A. Arthur upon the death of James A. Garfield. Clipped "and present my thanks. / Yrs very respy / Jno. R. Brady / Mr. Burnham," 5¼" X 2¼", n.p., n.y. Very good. Minor mounting traces on verso. Top text line slightly trimmed. Bold and attractive -- a quite nice example.
Price: $75.00

4. BREWER, David J. (1837-1910). Typed Note Signed.
Associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1889-1910). TNS, 1p, 8½" X 10", Washington, DC, 1909 May 14. Addressed to Dudley P. Lewis. Very good. Curious note on Supreme Court letterhead in which agrees to let Lewis sell photographs of him: "I am very willing that you sell my picture in your booth. My best picture is to be had at Harris & Ewings... I will very cheerfully put my signature to it."
Price: $100.00

5. CARSON, Hampton L. (1852-1929). Autograph Letter Signed.
American legal historian and noted bibliophile whose largesse benefited many Philadelphia institutions. Brief ALS, 1p, 8" X 10½", Philadelphia, PA, 1887 August 15. Addressed to Stone (probably Chicago publisher Melville E. Stone). Very good. Minor ink offsetting. Requests sketches "finished for me by Hildeborn & Jordon...."
Price: $35.00

6. CASSIDY, Lewis C. (1829-89). Signature and Inscription.
Memorable Pennsylvania attorney general (appointed 1883) and accomplished jurist. Bold and attractive "Very truly & c. / Lewis C Cassidy / Atty General," heavy stock 3 3/4" X 2¼" card, n.p., n.y. Very good.
Price: $20.00

7. CHOATE, Joseph H. (1832-1917). Typed Letter Signed.
This powerful attorney and diplomat is best remembered for having prosecuted the Tweed Ring and Standard Oil; he also served as U.S. ambassador to Great Britain and head of the U.S. delegation to the second International Peace Conference at The Hague. TLS, 2pp (separate leaves), 8" X 10½", New York, NY, 1908 February 25. Addressed to General Horatio C. King (1837-1918, Medal of Honor-winning Civil War officer). Very good. Lightly, evenly age toned. King, a Dickinson alumni (whose uncle, Charles, was the college president), served as Dickinson College trustee from 1896 to 1918 and also penned many of the school's songs. He had asked Choate to deliver an addresson the occasion of Dickinson's 125th anniversary, to which Choate here responds: "I regret very much to say that... I have found it utterly impossible to accept your invitation to attend the one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of Dickinson College and deliver the address, which I should have been glad to do on every account, because of the importance of the occasion and especially because you as President of the Alumni have the matter in charge and are to preside on that occasion. But in truth, I have found my time and attention to necessary duties so seriously invaded by what I have already done in that line during the present season, that it is not possible for me to give any more time to it. As you will realize, I have many matters, personal, professional and semi-public, to which I am committed and which I cannot possibly neglect...." Nice full signature.
Price: $150.00

8. CLARK, Tom C. (1899-1977). Typed Letter Signed.
This attorney general under Truman was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1949, where he served until 1967. TLS, 1p, 7" X 9", Washington, DC, 1948 February 18. Addressed to Judge Edward J. Turnbaugh. Very good. Two file holes at top margin. On Attorney General letterhead, Clark regrets at length that he cannot give the keynote address at a Youth Guidance Training Institute.
Price: $85.00

9. CLIFFORD, Nathan (1803-81). Signature.
This long-time U.S. Supreme Court associate justice (1858-81) also served as a New Hampshire representative (1839-43) and as U.S. attorney general (1846-48). Small signature and "Associate Jus Sup Court U.S." on a 3" X 2" slip tipped to a larger heavy card, n.p., n.y. Very good.
Price: $100.00

10. CURTIS, George Ticknor (1812-94). Letter Signed.
The reknowned New York attorney is remembered as counsel for the plaintiff in the Dred Scott case; he also authored the landmark "Constitutional History of the United States" (1889). LS, 2pp, 7 3/4" X 9 3/4", New York, NY 1864 May 2. Addressed to William P. Fessenden (1806-69), long-time Maine representative and senator. Very good. Quite minor wear -- overall bold, legible and attractive, penned on a 4pp lined lettersheet. Unusual letter discussing his "professional opinion on the validity of an Act of Congress supposed to have been passed Dec 24th 1861, raising the duties on Tea Coffee and Sugar: which act, however is in truth without any date of the year.... the supposed law is inoperative. This opinion was pretty soon followed by protests filed by the importers of these articles: and when I next heard of the matter, the amounts covered by these protests had become so large, and the Government (if my opinion was sound) were losing daily so large an amount of revenue, that I felt it to be my duty to mention the subject to the District Attorney.... I have not, however, seen in the proceedings of Congress any steps taken to cure this difficulty, or heard that it has been brought to the notice of the Secretary of the Treasury.... My opinion is now in the hands of a printer (for private use) and as soon as I can I will send you a copy of it...." We have not been able to pinpoint the title of this pamphlet -- but Curtis was a prolific pamphleteer, and in 1860 had published "A Letter to Senator Fessenden, on the Revision of the Patent Laws" (Boston: Alfred Mudge & Son). Appropriately, Fessenden himself was appointed Secretary of the Treasury a scant two months after this letter was written, on July 5th (an office he filled until March 3, 1865) -- so the tea, coffee and sugar duties issue was indeed "brought to the notice of the Secretary of the Treasury"!
Price: $195.00

11. DODD, Thomas J. (1907-71). Signature.
Chief of Counsel at the Nuremberg trials; as a Connecticut senator (1959-71), he was censured by his colleagues for "financial irregularities." Bold signature, heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., 1970 March 6. Fine. With original envelope.
Price: $45.00

12. FERGUSON, Homer (1888-1982). Signature / Unsigned Photograph.
Popular Michigan politician and senator (1943-1954); ambassador to the Philippines. Signature and title ("Judge US Court of Military App. / Washington, D.C.") with date (1967 May 17) on a special heavy stock 5" X 3" card. Fine. With original envelope. Accompanied by a choice, original vintage 10" X 8"news agency photograph (International News Photo). Near fine. Issued in 1947, this informal glossy shot depicts eight "weary, but smiling" legislators walking down the steps of the Capitol building, among them Ferguson, Claude Pepper, John Sparkman, Howard McGrath and other noted politicos of the day. Printed caption notes, "The 80th Congress Ended Its History Making First Session Today, Finally Adjourning at 3:49 AM EDT, More Than Three Hours After the House Had Quite to Go Home...." Itself a scarce and desireable image.
Price: $75.00

13. FLINT, Charles L. (1824-89). Signature and Salutation.
This noted Massachusetts attorney and agriculturist helped found the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Massachusetts Agricultural College, which he served briefly as president. "Your Obt. servt." and full signature in bold brown ink, clipped 3¼" X 5/8" (tipped to slightly larger sheet), n.p., n.y. Very good. Bold and attractive, likely clipped from an ALS. Nice example of one of MIT's founding fathers.
Price: $50.00

14. FRANKFURTER, Felix (1882-1965). Document Signed.
Austrian-born associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1939-62); helped found American Civil Liberties Union. Partly-printed DS, 1p, 8½" X 11", Cambridge, MA, 1919 September 29. Very good. Slight smearing of signature. Small chips at two corners, not affecting text. Updating form sent out by "Who's Who in America" for its 1920-21 edition, on light orange paper, with Frankfurter's 3" X 1½" biographical entry from the previous edition affixed onto the blank center area. Frankfurter has written in two small additions ("assistant to the Secretary of Labor" and "appt'd. chmn. War Labor Policies Bd., June, 1918"), signing and dating it at the bottom. Several editor's marks and corrections in purple ink. Comes with 1947 news agency photograph of a seated Frankfurter (his feet not touching the floor), along with Bernard Baruch and others, receiving an honorary degree from City College of New York.
Price: $695.00

15. GERTZ, Elmer (1902-2000). Autograph Note Signed.
Known as "The Clarence Darrow of Chicago," this controversial defense attorney defended novelist Henry Miller, Lee Harvey Oswald's murderer Jack Ruby, notorious child murderer Nathan Leopold and other high-profile cases. ANS (initials), 1p, heavy stock 3½" X 2" business card, Chicago, IL, n.d. [1947 March 4 postal cancellation]. Near fine. On his "Attorney at Law" business card, Gertz scrawls, "Owen -- Please send those 2 Higginson books to me," signing simply "EG." With original envelope, addressed in Gertz's hand.
Price: $25.00

16. GIBBS, Vicary (1751-1820). Signature and Salutation.
Known as "Vinegar" Gibbs for his sour rhetoric, this knighted (1805) English jurisprudence figure was a barrister, member of Parliament for Great Bedwyn, attorney general and privy counsellor. Signature and salutation (presumably from the close of an ALS), 4½" X 3", n.p., n.y. Very good. Laid to a heavy album leaf of same size. "with great respect / Sir / yr most obedt / humble servt / V. Gibbs." Below this another hand identifies Gibbs and dates this to 1809. Attractive.
Price: $50.00

17. GOLDBERG, Arthur J. (1908-90). Typed Note Signed.
This liberal Supreme Court associate justice (1962-65) resigned to take over Adlai Stevenson’s position as U.S. ambassador to the U.N. TNS, 1p, 5 3/4" X 9", Washington, DC, 1965 May 25. Addressed to Kenneth N. Anglemire. Near fine. On Supreme Court letterhead, Goldberg tells the president of Who’s Who in America that "The work of our Court prevents me from accepting your most cordial invitation...." Rather uncommon.
Price: $125.00

18. GREEN, Frank K. (?-?). Signature.
U.S. Supreme Court marshal, described by one writer as "The only person allowed yo make an undue amount of noise around the Supreme Court room is the official court crier, Frank K. Green...." Bold handsome signature and "Marshall, Supreme Court, U.S. / April 22, 1937" in black ink on a heavy stock 4¼" X 3¼" "Supreme Court of the United States / Washington, D.C." calling card. Fine. Most handsome and unusual. For the Supreme Court collector who has everything -- or thought they did!
Price: $50.00

19. GREENUP, Christopher (1750-1818), INNES, Harry (1752-1816), MARSHALL, James (1764-1848), SEBASTIAN, Benjamin (1745-1834), WILKINSON, James (1757-1825). Document Signed.
Fascinating and complex legal document signed by a number of interesting late colonial Virginia and Kentucky figures, namely: CHRISTOPHER GREENUP (1750-1818), one of Kentucky's early governors and one of its first representatives; HARRY INNES (1752-1816), Kentucky federal judge, appointed attorney general of the western district of Virginia in 1784; JAMES MARSHALL (1764-1848), younger brother of famed jurist John Marshall; BENJAMIN SEBASTIAN (1745-1834), Kentucky appellate court judge (1792-1806) involved in Spain's intrigues to break Kentucky and the west away from the United States, for which he received a pension from Spain; JAMES WILKINSON (1757-1825), Revolutionary War figure, aide to Generals Horatio Gates and George Washington, later implicated in the Aaron Burr conspiracy and also active in efforts to separate Kentucky from Virginia on behalf of Spain, for which he too received a pension from Spain (and helped get pensions for others who assisted, such as Innes and Sebastian). DS, 3pp, 7½" X 12", n.p., 1786 July 19. Very good. Evenly age toned, with bit of spotting and foxing and minor separations along a couple of folds. This convoluted legal documents concerns Ann Shield, the wife of Harry Innes. Shield -- Innes' second wife -- was the widow of Dr. Hugh Shield, for whose estate she served as executor. John Moylan of Philadelphia (either the well-known merchant, 1705-91, or his son John, 1745-99), James Wilkinson and John May issue this promissory note for 3,000 pounds to her and she discharges a debt of 1,026 pounds owed her by Benjamin Netherland (Revolutionary War figure, 1755-1838), who apparently signs over some land to Moylan, Wilkinson and May. It all gets rather hairy and Who's-on-First, for Shield also discharges some debts incurred by her late husband owed to John Moylan. Signed at the close on the second page by Moylan, Wilkinson, May and Innes (with triangular paper seals affixed with wax alongside each) and, as witnesses, by Marshall and Greenup. An addendum follows, dated 1786 December 27, signed again by Wilkinson and witnessed by Benjamin Sebastian. On the verso of the last leaf is a lengthy docket in the flamboyant hand of Greenup, dated 1789 June 16. An intriguing legal case and a superb assemblage of prominent names from this region at this time.
Price: $1,250.00

20. HURST, Cecil J.B. (1870-1963). Autograph Letter Signed.
This English barrister worked on the Paris Peace Treaties of 1919; it was he who proposed the Permanent Court of International Justice, which he then served as judge (1929-46) and president (1934-36); he also served as president of the Institute of International Law. ALS, 2pp, 5" X 8", The Hague, Netherlands, 1933 December 15. Addressed to Mr. Bright. Very good. On letterhead of the institution he helped create -- the Permanent Court of International Justice -- Hurst sends dubious thanks for "a note of congratulations on my election as President of this Court. I do not look forward to my three years of office with great enthusiasm. The times are difficult for all international organizations at present -- but we must be of good cheer... The nations of Europe -- and of South America and of Asia too for that matter -- might with advantage sit down for half an hour and reflect on what Christmas stands for...." A handsome piece with interesting, prophetic content.
Price: $95.00

21. KNAEBEL, Ernest (1872-1947). Typed Note Signed.
This noted government attorney prosecuted public land frauds in the West and served as as assistant Colorado attorney general before becoming the U.S. Supreme Court’s long-time reporter of decisions (1916-44). TNS, 1p, 8" X 10½", Washington, DC, 1937 May 6. Addressed to Arnold F. Gates. Near fine. On letterhead of the Supreme Court of the United States, Knaebel graciously transmits his autograph.
Price: $75.00

22. LAMAR, Lucius Q. C. (1825-93). Autograph Note Signed.
The Confederate officer and envoy to Russia (1862) served as a Georgia representative both before (1857-60) and after (1873-77) the Civil War; he also served that state as senator before becoming secretary of the interior (1885-88) and U.S. Supreme Court associate justice (1888-93). ANS, 1p, 7 3/4" X 3 3/4", n.p. [Washington, DC], 1877 January 26. Very good. Mounting traces on verso. "These ladies belong to my family / Admit them in the Members Gallery," boldly signed along with "MC / Miss" below. Choice handwritten pass to the House of Representatives viewing gallery, handsomely penned.
Price: $195.00

23. LASKIN, Bora (1912-84). Signature.
Chief Justice of Canada. Signature and "C. of C.," heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., 1979 November 26. Fine. With original envelope.
Price: $50.00

24. MALLET-PREVOST, Severo (1860-1948). Autograph Letter Signed.
This noted Mexican-born international lawyer gained reknown when named along with Benjamin Harrison to a controversial commission appointed to establish the boundary between Venezuela and British Guiana, a debate that raged from 1895 to 1899; Britain ruled the day, gaining much of this territory, a judgment Mallet-Prevost maintained near the end of his life was the result of a deal between Britain and Russia. ALS, 1p, 8" X 10¼", Washington, DC, 1896 September 14. Addressed to Professor Albert Johannsen, a University of Chicago geology professor who authored "The House of Beadle and Adams and Its Dime and Nickel Novels" (1950), the definitive reference work and bibliography on the subject. Near fine. On letterhead bearing the longwinded title "Office of the Commission Appointed 'to Investigate and Report Upon the True Divisional Line Between the Republic of Venezuela and British Guiana'," which also lists the Commissioners and names Mallet-Prevost as secretary, he pens a handsome note complying with an unnamed request: "I take pleasure in complying with the request contained in your letter of the 8th instant by sending you this note, and wishing you success in your work...." Small printed "Collection of Albert Johannsen" catalogue slip (partly filled in by Johannsen), accompanies this item. An unusual jurisprudence autograph.
Price: $75.00

25. McREYNOLDS, James C. (1862-1946). Signature.
This jurist served briefly as attorney general (1913-14), but is best remembered for his long stint as Supreme Court associate justice (1914-41) and attorney general under Wilson (1913-14). Bold full signature and "Justice U.S. Supreme / Court, / Washington Dec. 17th 1927" in black ink on a heavy stock 3 3/4" X 2¼" card. Fine. A couldn't-be-nicer example.
Price: $75.00

26. McREYNOLDS, James C. (1862-1946). Document Signed.
This jurist served briefly as attorney general (1913-14), but is best remembered for his long stint as Supreme Court associate justice (1914-41) and attorney general under Wilson (1913-14). Partly-printed DS (initials), 1p, 7" X 10½", Washington, DC, 1941 November 10. Near fine. "Printer’s Proof" for McReynolds’ entry in the 1942-43 edition of "Who’s Who in America," initialed, dated and OK’d by McReynolds. An interesting and unusual mini-biography.
Price: $200.00

27. MURPHY, Frank (1890-1949). Typed Letter Signed.
Best remembered as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1940-49), this jurist and politician enjoyed a varied, whirlwind career: mayor of Detroit (1930-33), governor general and U.S. high commissioner of the Philippine Islands (1933-36), governor of Michigan (1936-38) and U.S. attorney general (1939-40). TLS, 1p, 8" X 10½", Washington, DC, 1946 February 9. Addressed to Harry Barnard (1906-?, Chicago journalist and biographer noted for his 1938 "Eagle Forgotten: The Life of John Peter Altgeld"). Fair only. Lightly soiled and age toned, with quite faint, barely legible signature. On "Supreme Court of the United States" letterhead, Murphy offers up detailed and interesting commentary on Michigan political figure James Couzens (1872-1936), whose biography Barnard was then researching ("Independent Man: The Life of Senator James Couzens," 1958). Superb contents, reading in part: "He was not given to taking an interest in other men's public affairs. He not only spoke for me on the floor of the Senate when I was Mayor of Detroit but sent to me a check for a million dollars to help my unemployment committee." He continues: "I arranged the meeting between the President and him. I am sorry to say that it may have hastened his death. The President wanted to go to Harper Hospital to call on Senator Couzens. Senator Couzens would not allow it. He insisted on getting out of a sick bed and going down to the President's train and having supper in his parlor car... The Senator was on the verge of death then yet he did not think it right for the President to call on him. He was a gallant man. As a matter of fact he is the only man of immense wealth that I know that was honestly socially conscious. He really meant it.... I think I can be of considerable help to you...." Despite extremely faint signature (and two small equally faint text corrections in his hand), the typed text is fully and easily legible. A fascinating piece.
Price: $95.00

28. NYHOLM, Gjedde (1858-1931). Autograph Quotation Signed.
This Danish jurist served as judge on the Permanent Court of International Justice from 1922 to 1930. AQS, heavy stock 4¼" X 3½" card, The Hague, Netherlands, 1923 August 12. Near fine. Mounting traces on verso. Attractive piece handsomely penned in Nyholm's neat script. Untranslated, it is a quotation from Norwegian dramatist and poet Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906), and reads as follows: "(Frit effer Henrik Ibsen) = / Og har jeg end seilet min / Skiege i Havn / Saa var det dog hasligt at fare / The Hague, Aug 12, 1923 / GNyholm / Judge of the Permanent / Court of International / Justice." Unusual and attractive.
Price: $95.00

29. O'CONOR, Charles (1804-84). Signature.
This famed counselor was involved in the Tilden-Hayes election dispute and, as special deputy attorney general, successfully prosecuted the corrupt Tweed Ring in New York; he was nominated for president by the "Straight-Out Democrats" in 1872, making him the first Catholic presidential candidate. Bold signature, heavy stock 3½" X 2" card, n.p., n.d. Fine. This item is accompanied by a superb vintage 7" X 10½" steel engraving of O'Conor.
Price: $95.00

30. SIRICA, John J. (1904-92). Signature.
This American judge was thrust into the national limelight when he presided over the Watergate trial (1973-75). Bold signature in black fineline, 4¼" X 2 3/4" orange bookplate (with decorative black book border). Fine. Bookplate is visually quite pleasing and is NOT gummed, thus ideal for framing together with an image.
Price: $30.00

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