Search Results: Law from Main Street Fine Books & Manuscripts, ABAA

The only son of the famed politician and orator was a noted attorney, U.S. District Attorney in Arizona (1915-20) and Collector of Customs for the port of Los Angeles (1938-53). ANS, 1p, 7¼" X 10½", n.p., 1931 December 4. Addressed to Henry T. Rainey (1860-1934, Illinois congressman). Very good. Paper clip stain at upper left, else clean and nice. On personal letterhead, Bryan notes, "I was much interested in the enclosed clipping from one of our local papers. Especially in what you have said regarding silver and the tariff question. You may be interested in the enclosed copy of a speech I have been making on these subjects...." Alas, neither of these mentioned enclosures is present.

This well-known English barrister was son of William James Chaplin (1787-1859), "perhaps the greatest coach proprietor that ever lived" who saw that railroads would destroy the coaching business and became an executive with the London and South Western Railway, a Member of Parliament from Salisbury (1847-57). ALS, 4pp (lettersheet), 5¼" X 8¼", "on board S.S. 'Java'" (likely Indian Ocean), 24 August 1873. Addressed to John. Very good. Thin, rather delicate onion-skin paper, with a few small archivally mended separations along original folds and a couple spots where iron-gall ink has burned through. Interesting travelogue of a lengthy tour through India and nearby parts, reading in part: "I will only begin with you from my second pleasant trip from Lucknow with Sir Henry Tombs the General in command who took me out to Nepaul to look for tigers. We had 56 elephants and a huge camp but only saw four tigers and a leopard (besides deer etc) which we bagged in safety. By the way, the skin men utterly… Read More

This North Carolina superior court justice authored a number of well-respected Civil War biographies such as "Robert E. Lee: A Biography" (1934) and "Andrew Johnson: Plebeian and Patriot" (1928). ALS, 1p, 6" X 9½", Richmond, VA, 1931 September 22. Addressed to H.D. Trevillian. Near fine. On pictorial letterhead of Hotel John Marshall (appropriate digs for a jurist), Winston agrees to sign one of his books and arranges a time -- certainly "High Stakes and Hair Trigger: The Life of Jefferson Davis" (1930). Bold and attractive.

One of the most highly regarded attorneys in the U.S. was this Massachusetts lawyer, who was appointed to the Massachusetts Supreme Bench in 1865, where his reputation as a formidable jurist increased; committed suicide with a revolver, but whether it was a Colt we do not know. ALS, 1p, lined 5¼" X 8¼" lettersheet, Boston, MA, 1874 October 6. Addressed to "Col. Lathers" -- surely Richard Lathers, 1821-1903, noted Charleston and later New York merchant, banker, diplomat, and insurance and railroad executive. On stationery bearing a blind-embossed heading of "Tremont House / Boston" (Boston's famous and pioneering hotel), Colt pens a friend in his sloppy scrawl. In part: "How I should like to dine with you these October days -- & especially on the last day of [ ? ] show, that best of all holidays in the year. Sorry not to have your address on agriculture sorry to be held up here But so it is....

The dean of Columbia Law School went on to serve as attorney general under Coolidge before joining the U.S. Supreme Court, as associate justice (1925-41) and chief justice (1941-46). Partly-printed AMS, 4pp, 5 3/4" X 9¼", Englewood, NJ, 1913 November 24. Very good. "Who's Who in America" questionnaire, filled out entirely in Stone's hand, starting with full name, occupation, address, birthdate, and going into education, marital status, professional associations, clubs, etc. Most printed questions bear brief responses, and a few (namely military record and list of books written) did not apply and were left blank. Truly unique, a fascinating and exceptionally early biographical record by the future chief justice. Accompanied by a striking 6" X 8" steel engraving of Stone. Fine.

This member of the legendary early colonial Philadelphia family was a famed attorney and sociality of that city, active in such organizations as the American Philosophical Society and the Pennsylvania Board of Charities. ADS, 1p, 5¼" X 6½", Long Branch, NJ, 1876 July 3. Very good. Minor soiling. Payment order boldly penned in brown ink: "The Bank of North America Phila will please pay to the order of S.A. Howland One Hundred and nine 10/100 dollars...." Signed in full. Oval "Paid" inkstamp at lower right, not affecting written portion, and partial tax stamp at lower left, plus the usual cancellation slashes. Interesting and unusual.

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.

One of the best known attorneys in late 19th century New York City was this powerhouse district attorney, who was named to the New York Supreme Court in 1902. ANS, 1p, heavy stock 3" X 1½", n.p., n.y. Fine. On his elegant imprinted "Mr. Vernon Mansfield Davis" calling card, Davis crosses out the "Mr." and boldly pens "Mrs. Davis joins me / in thanks and / appreciation of good / wishes -- Sincerely / Vernon M. Davis." Also present is the tiny 3¼" X 2½" mailing envelope addressed in Davis's hand to Mr. and Mrs. John Barker and bearung 2-cent postage stamp. Very good. A black-bordered mourning envelope, undated but likely a condolence acknowledgment either for the death of Davis's mother in 1912 or his father in 1913. Accompanied by a second, pristine, unsigned calling card. Unusual!

This noted Chicago attorney and socialite was the nephew or renowned architect Daniel Burnham and the husband of influential American Impressionist artist Anita Willets-Burnham (1880-1958). ALS, 1p, 6½" X 9½", Winnetka, IL, 4 July 1939. Addressed to David C. Hannah. Very good. Faint folds and mild bit of wear, but boldly penned in black ink. Returns (not present!) "a dollar for the one you were kind enough to lend me the other day" and sends (also not included) a self-published book, "a complimentary copy of some of my Kiddish Rhymes -- you may have seen some of them before...." Interestingly, the street address Burnham pens at top -- "1407 Tower Road" -- was one of the oldest houses in this toney suburb north of Chicago, a circa 1820 log cabin his wife found in 1914, purchased and moved to this location, transforming it into a home and artist's studio (today owned by the Winnetka Historical Society).

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.

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 a fine -- and itself scarce -- 1947 news agency photograph (International News Photo) of a seated Frankfurter (feet not touching the floor!), along with Bernard Baruch and others, receiving an honorary degree from City College of New York. Original mimeographed caption sheet present.

This attorney from west central Illinois rode the judicial circuit with Abraham Lincoln; in 1858, when William "Duff" Armstrong (son of Lincoln's New Salem friend Jack Armstrong) was charged with murder, Lincoln represented him -- and Shaw served as co-prosecuting attorney; Armstrong was acquitted and it became one of the better known cases of Lincoln's law career. The first of these two Documents Signed is Shaw's law license: 1p, 8" X 12¼", n.p., 4 April 1851. Very good. Mild age toning and a few discreet archival mends on verso; mounting traces on verso along top edge (minor show-through). Top half of this text is an ADS in the hand of SAMUEL H. TREAT (1811-87), Illinois attorney and long-time Lincoln friend who joined the Illinois Supreme Court in 1841 and served as its chief justice from 1848 to 1855. Boilerplate text noting that "J.H. Shaw of Cass County Illinois has this day produced to us, Justices of the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois from the County Judge of said Cass County a… Read More

This Democrat-turned-Republican was an Oregon jurist and politician, serving that state as Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court (1853-58), United States Senator (1865-71), 32nd Attorney General under President Grant (1981-75) and finally, oddly, as mayor of Portland (1902-05). Partial DS, 1p, 7 3/4" X 9 3/4", n.p. [Washington, DC], n.y. [docket on verso notes 2 August 1872]. Very good. Lightly age toned. Closing boilerplate paragraph boldly penned in secretarial hand ("Please read carefully the enclosed printed instructions, acknowledge the receipt of this, and return all papers when the depositions are taken...."), signed at the close by Williams and initialed "A.D.R." by the aide who penned this. Note added below in another hand records, "In place of clts. printed [?] I enclose copy of Report of Tr[easury]. Dept. which contains a copy of Capt. Conkey's letter," this too signed "A.D.R." Docket on verso notes this regards the case of Shrewsbury vs. United States, a case in which "a transporter of… Read More

This English politician and jurist served as member of parliament and other high government positions, but is best known as Chief Justice of the Common Please (1824-29). Free-Franked Envelope, 4 3/4" X 3" (tipped to 7" X 4" album leaf), n.p., n.y. Very good. On the front portion (only) of this typically small envelope, Wynford addresses it in his usual illegible scrawl (possibly later life) to "Waverly Esqr / Post Office," signing simply "Wynford" at lower left as usual. Below this, on the period album leaf to which this is neatly affixed, is penned "Lord Wynford, late Lord Chief Justice Best" in a handsome hand. A nice example.

The son of noted Baptist minister Rev. Horatio G. Gates (1777-1853) was a Pennsylvania attorney and state senator known as an advocate of religious liberty; an antiquarian at heart, he long served as foreign corresponding secretary of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. Partly-printed DS, 1p, 7 3/4" X 9 3/4", Philadelphia, PA, 1852 November 8. Very good. Strong original folds (not weakened); mounting traces on verso. Attractive partly-printed document with large circular seal of this organization at top. Notifies Major G.H. Crossman that at the organization's November 8th meeting he was named an honorary member. Blank portions filled in by Jones in brown ink with his bold, interesting script. Large bold signature at the close.

Associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1889-1910). Bold brown ink signature on a 3½" X 1 3/4" slip bearing a typed "Very truly yours" near top, n.p., n.y. Very good. Mounting trace at top of verso with some show-through on front (not affecting signature). A sharp example.

Though nominated for chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1873, an irregularity regarding election fraud kept this Territory of Oregon chief justice, Grant's attorney general (1871-75) and Oregon senator (1865-71) from taking that office; ironically, it was he and Lew Wallace who in 1876 examined the controversial Florida presidential vote, siding with Hayes. Bold "Geo H Williams / Atty Genl / Sept 5th 1874" in brown fountain pen, heavy stock 3½" X 2", n.d. Near fine. Mounting traces on verso.

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.

Chief Justice of Canada. Signature and "C. of C.," heavy stock 5" X 3" card, n.p., 1979 November 26. Fine. With original envelope.

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.