Description:

Taft William

William H. Taft Patent Law Case; 25 Years Later on the Supreme Court, Taft Would Face the Same Litigant

 

1p autograph letter inscribed overall by future 27th U.S. President William H. Taft (1857-1930), then an Ohio-based Circuit Court Judge, and signed by him as "W.H.T." near the bottom. Postmarked from Quebec, Canada and dated September 1, 1895. On a fragment of watermarked cream blue-ruled paper. With deckled side edges and expected paper folds, a few smudges and ghost ink impressions, else near fine. 7" x 8.325". Accompanied by the original transmittal envelope with a "United States / Circuit Court of Appels, / For the Sixth Circuit. / Judge's Chambers. / Cincinnati." preprinted return address, and also hand-inscribed by Taft. Bearing three cancelled 3 cent Canadian postage and two hand-stamped philatelic markings verso. Letter-opened at top and with expected weathering.

 

Judge Taft was enjoying a working vacation at Pointe-au-Pic in southern Quebec. He sent the following instructions to assistant George Leonard:

 

"I send herewith the opinion in the Duplex Printing Co case…I told Harsha to send my address to you that you might make three more copies and send one to me. The others I wish you would keep so as to send them as I may direct.

 

Sincerely yours

W.H.T.

 

Sept 1st 1895."

 

The "Duplex Printing Co case" referred to litigation between two printing companies over patent infringement. Duplex Printing Press Company versus the Campbell Printing Press and Manufacturing Co. (69 Fed. 250, No. 250) was presented before Judge Taft and his colleague Judge Horace Harmon Lurton (1844-1914) in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on July 2, 1895. The case was in Taft's jurisdiction because the Battle Creek, Michigan-based Duplex Printing Company was located in his geographical territory of the eastern district of Michigan. Taft's opinion of the case is reproduced in United States Circuit Courts of Appeals Reports, Vol. 16 (St. Paul: West Publishing Co., pp. 220-227.)

 

The Campbell Printing Press and Manufacturing Company had previously alleged that the Duplex Printing Company had infringed on two critical technological patents, the Kidder patent for the printing machine, and the Stonemetz patent for the web printing machine. The original court verdict of the case was complicated when the defendant, Duplex, took out a chattel mortgage. When Taft and Lurton revisited the case in 1895, Duplex was appealing the court's earlier decision. In his opinion, Taft ruled that "the preliminary injunction restraining infringement of certain claims" stayed unless the defendant could present a $25,000 bond within 10 days. Some twenty five years later, this time as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Taft would again deliberate on a case involving the Duplex Printing Company. Duplex Printing Company v. Deering (1921) was a landmark case involving labor unions.

 

In the letter, Taft also mentions one "Harsha". This was Walter S. Harsha (1849-1917), the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals Clerk from the Eastern District of Michigan, based out of Detroit. Harsha served in this capacity during the entire length of Taft's tenure as Circuit Court judge and beyond (1882-1909.)

 

Taft had graduated from the University of Cincinnati Law School in 1880, and occupied positions as Cincinnati Superior Court judge and Solicitor General before assuming responsibilities as a federal court judge. President Benjamin Harrison appointed Taft a judge of the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in 1892, a position that Taft would hold until 1900. In this role, Taft and other circuit judges presided over hearing and appeals trails in Tennessee, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio.

 

Little is known about Taft's correspondent George W. Leonard, except that he too was a lawyer associated with the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. During his travels, Taft addressed numerous pieces of correspondence to Leonard--most including copious instructions relating to both work and Taft's personal life--that indicate Leonard performed secretarial and paralegal duties for Taft.

 

The Tafts (William had married Helen in 1886) vacationed for over forty years at a summer residence at Pointe-au-Pic near Charlevoix facing Murray Bay. Their summer home Fassifern Cottage was a hodgepodge of add-ons and ells, ever expanding to accommodate the growing Taft family and their house guests. The Midwestern Tafts were famous for their warm hospitality and enthusiastic entertaining. The Taft’s summer season usually culminated with William’s birthday bash on September 15th, where it was not uncommon for Helen to feed up to eighty guests.

 

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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