Description:

Taft Court
n.p., n.d.
W. Taft & L. Brandeis Signed Photo Showing Supreme Court Justices at White House Dedicated to "Abe the Newsboy"
SP
A presentation photo depicting members of the U.S. Supreme Court congregated at the White House, signed by two of nine U.S. Supreme Court justices of the Taft Court: Chief Justice William H. Taft (1857-1930) as "Wm H Taft" near bottom right; and countersigned by Associate Justice Louis Brandeis (1856-1941) as "Louis D. Brandeis" at lower right. N.d. but ca. October 8, 1929, when the justices trekked to President Hoover's White House to ceremonially announce the opening of the Supreme Court session. N.p. but probably Washington, D.C. A manuscript inscription above Taft's autograph reads: "To Abe the Newsboy." Expected wear to the photo surface including isolated wrinkles, smudges, and scuffs. The "Wm" of Taft's signature is slightly smeared. A former collector has affixed a photocopy identifying the White House visit verso. Else very good to near fine. Matted and framed behind glass. Not examined out of the frame. The sight size of the photograph is 9.75" x 7.375" while the overall frame size is 14.5" x 12.125" x 1."

The photograph shows six members of the Taft Court, the front row of men from left to right: Associate Justice Willis V. Devanter; Associate Justice Harlan F. Stone; Associate Justice George Sutherland; Chief Justice William H. Taft, facing left; Associate Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr; and Associate Justice Louis D. Brandeis. The October session of the U.S. Supreme Court had opened the previous day on October 7, 1929 (in accordance with post-1917 tradition, the first Monday of October). The first terrible signs of the 1929 Stock Market Crash occurred less than three weeks later, on October 24, 1929, or "Black Thursday."

This photograph was almost certainly dedicated to Abraham Hollandersky (1888-1966), the Polish-American title-winning professional boxer, whose nickname was "Abe the Newsboy." In between welterweight boxing and wrestling matches, Abe supplemented his income by hawking newspapers in navy dockyards. President Theodore Roosevelt had appointed Abe official "Newsboy of the Navy" in 1906.

Ex-president William H. Taft served as 10th Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court between 1921-1930, during which time he oversaw primarily conservative court rulings. Taft is the only person to date who has served as U.S. President and Supreme Court justice.

Associate Justice Louis Brandeis was the son of Jewish Czech immigrants. Brandeis became the most high-profile Zionist in America after his appointment as the first Jewish Supreme Court justice in 1916. Brandeis would sit on the bench until his retirement in 1939.

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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  • Dimensions: framed: 14.5" x 12.125" x 1"
  • Medium: SP

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