Price: $3,500 English philosopher and jurist; one of the chief expounders of Utilitarianism; author of Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation. Autograph Manuscript, unsigned, full page, small quarto, undated. Fine condition. A portion of the original manuscript of the second edition of Chrestomathia, with corrections and additions in the text by Bentham. “Impracticability, … [ Read More ]
law
Bentham, Jeremy
Price: $3,500 English philosopher; one of the chief expounders of utilitarianism; noted jurist and author of Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation. Autograph Manuscript, full page, legal folio, undated, [December 28, 1820.] Twenty-three lines of notes in Jeremy Bentham’s hand concerning interpretations of the law, with additional corrections and revisions, also in his … [ Read More ]
Blackstone, William
Price: $6,750 English jurist. Partly printed Document Signed, one page, octavo, February 15, 1773. “Let the def[endant’]s attorney or agent attend me at my chambers in Sergeants Inn tomorrow morning at 9 of the clock in the forenoon to show cause why the def[endan]t should not have till ten o’clock same day to plead in … [ Read More ]
Bonnie and Clyde
Price: $475 A wanted poster issued for Bonnie and Clyde by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Division of Investigation, one page, quarto, May 21, 1934. The poster bears a photo of the pair in front of their car and gives their physical descriptions, names of relatives, and criminal records. The murderous duo is wanted for … [ Read More ]
Borden, Lizzie A.
Price: $7,500 American suspect in the unsolved murders of her wealthy father and step-mother. Autograph Letter Signed, L.A. Borden, two full pages, small octavo, Fall River, Massachusetts, December 9, 1896. To Miss Jennie F. Bras, with the original envelope. “I should be ready to see you Wednesday the sixteenth any time after five in the … [ Read More ]
Douglas, William O
Price: $650 Supreme Court Justice. Typewritten Letter Signed, Bill, one page, octavo, Washington D.C., May 9, 1961. On his name-imprinted stationary of the Supreme Court of the United States. To Paul Doherty in Gorham, New Hampshire. With the original envelope. “I have your letter of May 2. I would certainly like to get up to … [ Read More ]
Ellsworth, Oliver
Price: $475 Chief Justice of the United States. Document Signed, one page, oblong octavo, Hartford, January 9, 1777. To Jonathan Lawrence, treasurer. “Please to pay David Paine Esq. Twenty pounds six shillings & seven pence for himself…all being for the purchase and premium on saltpetre and charge the state.” Fine condition.
Garrett, Patrick Floyd
Price: $3,750 Frontier lawman; killed Billy the Kid. Partly printed Check Signed and filled in by him, in pencil, Las Cruces, New Mexico, March 8, 1900. Drawn on the account of George D. Bowman & Son, Bankers, and made payable to Henry [Haas] in the amount of $5. This item is associated with these categories … [ Read More ]
Garrett, Patrick Floyd
Price: $8,750 Frontier lawman; killed Billy the Kid. Arrest Warrant Signed, “Pat F Garrett / Sheriff of Lincoln County,” July 24, 1882, octavo. The warrant is for the arrest of Ed L. House who is accused of “willfully and maliciously” killing one Juan Chavis of Pino on July 20, 1882. The Warrant, written by Frank … [ Read More ]
James, Frank
Price: $9,500 Desperado; robbed banks and trains together with his brother Jesse. Autograph Letter Signed, Ben, one half page, at the conclusion of a five and a half page letter from his friend, Mrs. Sam Gilkey, octavo, Gallatin, Missouri, July 7, [1883]. To his wife, Annie James. With original envelope. The name Ben was an … [ Read More ]
Jay, John
Price: $12,500 President of the Continental Congress; first Chief Justice of the United States; first Minister of Foreign Affairs; negotiated the Jay Treaty of 1794. Autograph Letter Signed, three pages, quarto, London, October 2, 1794. To his wife Sally. John Jay writes from London, where he was negotiating what became known as the Jay Treaty: … [ Read More ]
Jay, John
Price: $15,000 American statesman and chief justice of the Supreme Court. Letter Signed as Secretary of Foreign Affairs, two pages, large octavo, New York, January 30, 1786. To Samuel Shaw, U.S. Consul for Canton, China. “I have the Honor of transmitting to you herewith enclosed, a Commission constituting you Consul of the United States, at … [ Read More ]
Jay, John
Price: $9,500 President of the Continental Congress; first Chief Justice of the United States; first Minister of Foreign Affairs; negotiated the Jay Treaty of 1794. Autograph Letter Signed, two pages, quarto, New Haven, [Connecticut], April 24, 1792. To his wife Sally. “My last to you was written at Bedford; which place I left yesterday, and … [ Read More ]
Jay, John
Price: $4,750 President of the Continental Congress; first Chief Justice of the United States; first Minister of Foreign Affairs; negotiated with Franklin and Adams the Treaty of Paris which ended the American Revolution; co-authored the Federalist Papers; negotiated the Jay Treaty of 1794; governor of New York. Autograph Manuscript, one and a half pages, legal … [ Read More ]
Lincoln, Abraham
Price: $7,500 President of the United States. Autograph Manuscript, unsigned, one page, oblong octavo, undated, framed with a fine signature, Lincoln & Herndon, mounted below. As a young attorney, Abraham Lincoln pens a legal manuscript concerning a case of arson: Besides the title papers, one of which I have, and the other of which, Officers … [ Read More ]
London
Price: $17,000 Sir Thomas Clarges. Justice of the Peace for Westminster. Document Signed, T Clarges, one page, quarto, April 18, 1720. With the integral docketed leaf attached. A Certificate for paving new streets in London. …Pursuant to an Act of Parliam[en]t made in the second year of the Reigne of the late King William and … [ Read More ]
Marshall, John
Price: $10,000 Chief Justice of the United States. Autograph Letter Signed, “J. Marshall,” one page, quarto, undated. To Walter L. Fontaine. “I have received your letter inclosing the half of a note of one hundred dollars and I now inclose one of the halves before sent.” In 1816, while Chief Justice, Marshall sold 421 acres … [ Read More ]
New York
Price: $3,750 Document, issued in the name of Queen Anne, of England, one page, folio, [15 by 17 1/2 inches], on vellum, May 15, 1703. A land grant in favor of William Lawrents for a small island containing about eight acres, sitting at the mouth of Little Spillgate, and between great and Little Agazzi Islands … [ Read More ]
Stroud, Robert
Price: $4,750 The Bird Man of Alcatraz. While in prison on two murder charges, made his life’s work the study of birds and bird diseases; wrote the Digest of Bird Diseases, which is the definitive work on the subject, still in active use among bird lovers and zoos. Autograph Letter Signed, “Bob, Robert Stroud 594,” … [ Read More ]
Supreme Court
Price: $1,250 Vinson Court. Mimeographed memo, issued from the “Chambers of the Chief Justice,” endorsed with the initials of the eight associate justices of the Vinson Court, next to their printed names, one page, small octavo, June 11, 1947. The associate justices’s initials indicate that they have “approved” the item which was circulated. Signatures represented … [ Read More ]
Supreme Court
Price: $8,750 Fred M. Vinson Court. Signed Photograph of the Fred M. Vinson Court, circa 1949/1953, including Chief Justice Fred M. Vinson, Felix Frankfurter, Hugo L. Black, Stanley Reed, William O. Douglass, Tom C. Clark, Robert H. Jackson, Harold Burton, and Sherman Minton. The black and white photograph measures 13 1/8 inches wide by 10 … [ Read More ]
Taney, Roger B
Price: $1,000 Chief Justice of the United States; presided over the Dred Scott decision. Autograph Document Signed three times, R.B. Taney pl[ainti]ffs Attorney at the conclusion of the document; Roger B. Taney in the text; and R.B. Taney on the docket, one page, legal folio, Frederick County, [circa April 1807]. A legal document related to … [ Read More ]
Tweed, William M
Price: $1,750 Boss Tweed. New York political leader; as head of the “Tweed Ring” robbed the city of millions of dollars. Partly printed Document Signed, W M Tweed, one page, quarto, New York, April 20, 1866. A payment authorization and receipt made out to Peter Hevey in the amount of $38.50 for repairing and fitting … [ Read More ]