legal
ABRAHAM LINCOLN — AS A PRACTICING ATTORNEY ON THE ILLINOIS CIRCUIT COURT — FILES A SLANDER COMPLAINT AGAINST A DEFENDANT WHO “UTTERED AND PUBLISHED…FALSE, SCANDALOUS, MALICIOUS AND DEFAMATORY WORDS…”
LINCOLN, ABRAHAM. (1809-1865). Sixteenth President. “September, 1852”, “Tazewell County, Illinois” . 8” x 3 ½ inches. An autograph fragment of a legal complaint filed by Lincoln on behalf of his client. Nearly 90+ words in his hand.
OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES, JR. — A SIMPLY STUNNING LETTER FROM THE FUTURE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE TO HIS MITRESS: CLAIRE CASTLETOWN, THE LADY CASTLETOWN ~~ “THE GREATEST EXPERIENCES OF LIFE ARE: WAR, WOMEN, A STORM AT SEA, AND THE MOUNTAINS”
OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES, JR. (1841-1935). Associate Justice, United States Supreme Court, 1902-1932. Autograph Letter Signed, “O.W. Holmes”, Four full pages, quarto. Beverly Farms, Massachusetts. August 7, 1897. To his mistress.
MARK TWAIN WRITES TO RUDYARD KIPLING’S ATTORNEY, A.T. GURLITZ: “AN AUTHOR IS INJURED BY THE PUBLICATION OF ANY UNAUTHORIZED EDITION OF HIS WORKS” ~~ CLARIFYING HIS VIEWPOINTS ON COPYRIGHT LAW FOLLOWING A HIGH PROFILE CASE DURING WHICH TWAIN HIMSELF PROVIDED TESTIMONY IN DEFENSE OF AUTHORIAL RIGHTS
CLEMENS, SAMUEL L. [MARK TWAIN]. (1835-1910.) American humorist, lecturer and writer. Autograph Letter Signed twice, “S.L. Clemens” and “S.L.C.” Three very full, separate pages, octavo. Ampersand, N.Y., September 14, 1901. Very fine condition.
WOODROW WILSON AS PROFESSOR OF JURISPRUDENCE & POLITICS — AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
WILSON, (THOMAS) WOODROW. (1856-1924). Twenty-eighth President of the United States. Uncommon Autograph Statement Signed “Woodrow Wilson”, as Princeton University “Professor of Jurisprudence & Politics” on light mint-green stationery. One full page, crown octavo. [Princeton, NJ], August 10, 1899. Very fine condition. Certifying George Kinkaid in his coursework at the University.
LINCOLN AND HIS FIRST LAW PARTNER JOHN T. STUART — JOINTLY ACKNOWLEDGE PAYMENT OF $50 FOR THEIR LEGAL SERVICES
ABRAHAM, LINCOLN. (1809-1865). President of the United States; assassinated. Exceedingly-rare and Choice [apparently unpublished], Autograph Document Signed, “A. Lincoln” in his capacity as attorney. No place [Springfield, Illinois]], April 7, 1854. One page, oblong narrow octavo. [approx 4 x 8 inches].
HENRY CABOT LODGE WRITES ABOUT A BILL COMING BEFORE CONGRESS FOR: “THE PROPOSED INCREASE IN COMPENSATION FOR POSTAL EMPLOYEES”
LODGE, HENRY CABOT. (1850-1924). American statesman. Typed Letter Signed, “H.C. Lodge”, on imprinted United States Senate, Committee on Foreign Relations letterhead. One full page, quarto. May 26, 1920.
THE FAMOUS DEFENSE ATTORNEY, CLARENCE DARROW, TRANSFERS HIS STOCK IN AN ARIZONA MINING COMPANY
DARROW, CLARENCE S. (1857-1938) American lawyer who defended Eugene Debs, Leopold and Loeb, and John T. Scopes in the infamous “Monkey Trial”. Document Signed “C. S. Darrow” on the verso. Attractive orange bordered stock certificate for 50 shares in the Black Mountain Mining Company. One page, oblong folio, Territory of Arizona, Oct 22, 1906.