Description:

Supreme Court
various, various
Levi Woodbury, David Davis & James St. Clair, Supreme Court-Related Signed Docs.
Archive
Collection of three Supreme Court-related signed documents, in alphabetical order by surname:

1.) David Davis (1815-1886). Signature, "David Davis", 1p, on a slip stamped "U.S.S.", 5.25" x 1.875", no place, no date. Unevenly cut edges. Central vertical flattened fold and light creases. Minor discoloration. In fine condition.

Davis was an American politician and jurist who was an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court (1862-1877) and a United States senator from Illinois (1877-1883). Davis also served as Abraham Lincoln's campaign manager at the 1860 Republican National Convention, engineering Lincoln's successful nomination for president by that party.

2.) James Draper St. Clair (1920-2001). Signed First Day Cover, "James D St. Clair", 1p, 6.5" x 3.75", postmarked from Washington, D.C., on May 10, 1971. A 2.25" x 3.5" color image depicting an allegorical figure at sea holding an American flag is adhered at left. Previous collector's pencil notations along the bottom edge verso. Light toning at edges. A bit of adhesive residue. In near fine condition.

St. Clair was an officer in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1945. He graduated from Harvard Law School in 1947 and joined the firm of Hale & Dorr two years later. St. Clair became a senior partner in 1954. He served as the chief legal counsel for 37th U.S. President Richard M. Nixon (1913-1994) during the latter's U.S. Supreme Court trial, United States v. Nixon. The case was argued before the U.S. Supreme Court between July 8, 1974 and the delivery of a unanimous verdict on July 24, 1974.

3.) Levi Woodbury (1789-1851). Letter Signed, "Levi Woodbury", as secretary of the Treasury, 1p, on bifold stationery measuring 8" x 9.75", Washington, D.C., July 28, 1836. To W.D. Lewis, Esq., cashier of the prestigious Girard Bank of Philadelphia. Inner pages and verso blank. Unevenly cut bottom edge. Expected mailing folds. Light toning. Minor ink smudging at signature. Scattered stains along central vertical fold. In near fine condition.

Written from the Treasury Department in a secretarial hand, in full: "I have the honor to acknowlege [sic] this receipt of your letter of July 26th, together with the statement respecting the Bank incorporated by the Legislature of Pennsylvania at its late session, and thank you for your attention in transmitting the same."

Lewis's July 26, 1836 letter to Woodbury can be found in the official "Report from the Secretary of War in compliance a resolution of the Senate of the 13th October 1837, in relation to the Cherokee treaty of 1835". The provided details about the terms of an investment made "for account of the Cherokees." Woodbury had authorized Lewis to invest $94,880 in 30-year Kentucky bonds at 5% interest offered by the Northern Bank of Kentucky. This money, and money like it, was to be invested into high interest-yielding bonds sponsored by states like Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, Michigan, and Maryland and earmarked for exclusive use by the Cherokee Indians. The Cherokees were facing imminent removal in accordance with the December 29, 1835 Treaty of New Echota and needed a nest egg.

Woodbury served as the 13th U.S. Secretary of the Treasury between 1834 and 1841. He accepted President James K. Polk's appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1845 and served as an associate justice until his death.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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