Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 64

U.S. Supreme Court Justices

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 224		Blackstone, Sir William (1723-1780) English jurist; author of Commentaries on the Laws of England (1765-69), the definitive pre-Revolutionary War source of common law and extremely influential on jurisprudence in the United States; often quoted by the U.S. Supreme Court. Exceedingly rare Autograph Letter Signed ("W Blackstone"), 1½ pages (recto/verso), 9x 7¾ in., Priory Place, Sept. 13, 1779. Written to an unidentified person about prison reform, possibly to William Eden, first Lord Auckland (1744-1814), for both he and Blackstone were deeply involved in this issue. Fine; mounting remnants at right margin of verso. Boldly penned and signed. Accompanied by an engraved portrait of Sir William. Only two Blackstone Autograph Letters Signed have ever appeared on the market that we know of. In his Commentaries, Blackstone established that English law was a system of justice comparable to Roman law and the civil law of Europe. At about the same time, 1764, modern penology -- the school which assumes that criminal acts are deliberate choices -- was launched with the publication of Crimes and Punishments by Beccaria. In this letter, written the year before his death, Blackstone is setting up the English penal system: "It is with Pleasure that I acquaint you that I think I have prevailed on Mr. Howard to act as a Supervisor. He writes to me, that Sir Charles Banbury had mentioned Dr. Fothergill as One who would Take a part in such a Business, & adds that he would cheerfully act with such a Collegue. I write to Sir Charles by this Post, to learn Dr. Fothergill's Resolutions, which I hope will be as we could wish. If he accedes, the Commission will then be full; & Dr. Fothergill, Mr. Gerard, & Mr. Gayler may immediately be nominated in Council, & perhaps make some Progress this Autumn. I like some of Mr. Milne's Hints exceedingly, & understand Your Sketch of them perfectly well: I am particularly pleased with the artificial Island in which he would build the Penitentiaries. I say Islands…for I think the Inconvenience of building the Houses so as to adjoin, would overbalance the Saving made by having only one Chapel & one Set of Officers. But this consideration is at present rather premature. If we cannot engage Dr. Fothergill, perhaps Dr. Smith may serve. He has some Knowlege & Merit, & has been particularly attentive to this Subject. But I think his Powers are very limited, & that he is too apt to [be] opinionated. When once the men are fixed, the Form of the Nomination may be easily supplied." Estimated Value $10,000 - 15,000. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 225		Hughes, Charles E. & Harlan Fiske Stone. Typed Letter Signed "Charles E. Hughes" as Governor of New York, on embossed Executive Chamber letterhead, 9¾ x 7 in., Albany, April 3, 1908. To Judge C.F. McLean of New York City, assuring him that Hughes has received his letter "relating to Hon. M. Linn Bruce. The matter will receive careful consideration." Slight wear at folds; large, bold signature, signed in black ink. With Newsprint Sketch Signed, "Charles E. Hughes," 9½ x 6 in., in the blank margin below his image and a facsimile signature. Also, a Newsprint Sketch Signed, "Harlan Stone" 6 x 5 in., across his left shoulder. Estimated Value $250 - 300. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 226		O'Connor, Sandra Day & Clarence Thomas. Black and white Photographs Signed and Inscribed by Supreme Court Justices O'Connor and Thomas, both 9 x 6 in. and both sent in 2001 (transmittal envelopes are present, as is a letter from Justice Thomas' office), to Danny (Leeds), a young man who was suffering from a brain tumor (he died in 2002). Also, a 10 x 8 in. color Photograph Signed "Sandra Day O'Connor" with no inscription. All Very Fine. Estimated Value $125 - 150. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold
Lot 227		Stone, Harlan F (1872-1946) Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Photograph Inscribed and Signed, "To Irving B. Goldsmith Esq with good wishes Harlan F. Stone Mar 6 - 1930," as associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1925-41), 10½ x 7¼ inches. Photograph by Harris & Ewing, Washington, D.C. A couple of small smudges in the left margin, else fine. Estimated Value $200 - 250. View details	Unsold
Lot 228		Supreme Court Justices - Collection of 21 Signatures. This lot contains 13 items with a total of 21 signatures. Items are: A 1921 Typed Letter Signed by William H. Taft as Chief Justice, to the American ambassador in Rome, asking for assistance for relatives who are traveling to Europe; a 1948 TLS by Earl Warren as Governor of California, thanking a supporter for coming aboard his campaign train; a 1988 program for commencement exercises signed and inscribed by Warren G. Burger on the cover; five Supreme Court cards with Biblical quotations and signatures by Arthur J. Goldberg, Harold H. Burton, William O. Douglas, Potter Stewart, and Sherman Minton stating which scripture had most influenced them (no one verse for Minton); Supreme Court card with signature only of Charles E. Whitaker; individual First Day Covers signed by William O. Douglas, and Arthur J. Goldberg (2); FDC signed by Hugo Black, Harold H. Burton, Charles E. Whitaker, and Byron White; FDC signed by James F. Byrnes, William O. Douglas, Potter Stewart, Earl Warren, and Arthur J. Goldberg. Overall condition is fine. Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $840
Lot 229		Supreme Court Justices - Including Rare 19th Century Justices. An album containing 45 signatures of Supreme Court Justices, including six 19th century justices. The majority of the signatures are on Supreme Court cards. There are four Autograph Letters Signed (Stanley Matthews, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Mahlon Pitney, and Benjamin Cardozo) and five Typed Letters Signed (James F. Byrnes, two by Harold H. Burton, and two by W. O. Douglas). Some cards have written or typed sentiments. Six justices signed more than one item. This collection was put together by a minister in Ohio. There are some hard-to-find names and the entire collection should be seen to be appreciated. The following justices are in this collection: Noah H. Swayne, Samuel F. Miller, William Strong, George Shiras, Jr., R.W. Peckham, Stanley Matthews, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Mahlon Pitney, J.C. McReynolds, Charles E. Hughes, Harlan Stone, Owen Roberts, Benjamin N. Cardozo, Hugo Black, Stanley Reed, Feliz Frankfurter, William O Douglas, James F. Byrnes, Frank Murphy, Robert H. Jackson, Wiley Rutledge, Harold H. Burton, Fred M. Vinson, Tom Clark, Earl Warren, John M. Harlan, William J. Brennan, Jr., Potter Stewart, Byron White, Abe Fortas, Thurgood Marshall, Harry A. Blackmun, William Rehnquist, and John Paul Stevens. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,500. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $2,100
Lot 230		Taney, Roger (1777-1864) Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (1836-64), best known for writing the Dred Scott Decision. Manuscript Document Signed ("R Taney") twice, once on the front and once on the back, one page, 11¾ x 7¾ in., Frederick County, Maryland (1804). A legal document signed as attorney for the plaintiff. Toning, else fine. Estimated Value $200 - 250. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $189
Lot 231		Thomas, Clarence (1948 -) Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Photograph Signed, 7½ x 5½ in., n.p., n.d. Matted and framed to 14½ x 12½ in. Estimated Value $100 - 150. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold