Law from Main Street Fine Books & Manuscripts, ABAA

This conservative jurist served as 15th Chief Justice of the United States (1969-86), replacing Earl Warren. Three TNsS (each with large, bold "WEB"), each 7¼" X 9½", Washington, DC, 26 November 1974 / 15 May 1975 / 14 January 1980. Addressed to Marvin S. Sadik. Fine. On "Supreme Court of the United States" letterhead, Burger writes to the noted… Read more about this item

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… Read more about this item

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… Read more about this item

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.

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),… Read more about this item

The U.S. attorney general under Truman (1945-49) was then appointed an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1949-67). Printed DS, 5pp, 9" X 6", [Washington, DC], 3 March 1974. Very good. Single vertical fold, else near fine. Headed "Supreme Court of the United States" this printed self-cover pamphlet (apparently printed shortly after its 4 May 1964 date) presents… Read more about this item

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… Read more about this item

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. Boldly penned "Yours very truly / Saml Blatchford" in brown ink on a corner-clipped 4 3/4" X 1½" lined slip… Read more about this item

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… Read more about this item

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… Read more about this item

This huge corruption investigation of the 1980s involved the FBI, IRS, USPS, Chicago Police Department and other law enforcement agencies and resulted in a large number of indictments and convictions of judges, lawyers, sheriffs, police officers and court officials -- among the top of which was this federal judge, convicted of extorting $200,000 in "loans" from those under him;… Read more about this item

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… Read more about this item

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.… Read more about this item

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.… Read more about this item

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… Read more about this item

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,"… Read more about this item

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,… Read more about this item

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… Read more about this item

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… Read more about this item

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,… Read more about this item