Lot 366

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Description:

  1. William H. Taft Incredible Archive From Presidency to the Supreme Court, with Helen Taft Signed Items and Other Related Materials
  2. A large archive of letters, documents, and ephemera by and related to William H. Taft and his wife. Including 17 William H. Taft autographed items and 5 of Helen H. Taft, dating from 1891 to 1939. Contents include the following:
  3. 1. Blank Certificate of Membership to the Washington, D.C. University Club. 1p, measuring 11" x 8.5", Washington, D.C., c. 1900s. No. 1099, signed "Wm H Taft" as club president.
    2. Blank U.S. Internal Revenue Distillery Warehouse Receipt. 1p, measuring 7.75" x 3.125", no place, c. 1890s. No. R8289487, signed "Wm H Taft" as Collector.
    3. TLS "Wm H Taft" as Acting Attorney General. 1p, measuring 7.75" x 9.75", Washington, D.C., dated January 30, 1891. Addressed to Calderon Carlisle, Esq. On Department of Justice letterhead.
    4. TLS "Wm H Taft" as Secretary of War. 1p, measuring 5.5" x 9", Washington, D.C., dated May 1, 1905. Addressed to Hon. J. Warren Keefer, M.C. Discussing an appointment.
    5. TLS "Wm H Taft" as Secretary of War. 1p, measuring 5.5" x 9", Washington, D.C., dated April 22, 1908. Addressed to Elmer H. Youngman Esq.
    6. TLS "Wm H Taft". 1p, measuring 5.25" x 7.625", Cincinnati, Ohio, dated October 9, 1908. Addressed to Albert H. Walker Esq.
    7. TLS "Wm H Taft" as President. 1p, measuring 7" x 8.75", Washington, D.C., dated January 28, 1911. Addressed to Hon. Franklin K. Lane, on White House stationary.
    8. Unsigned Telegram Sent by Taft. 1 p, measuring 8" x 5.25", Washington, D.C., dated March 3, 1911. Addressed to Hon. Howard C. Hollister, inviting him to stay at the White House. With original envelope.
    9. White House Card Signed "Wm H Taft". Measuring 4.25" x 2.75", [Washington, D.C.], undated.
    10. TLS "Wm H Taft" from Canada. 1p, measuring 7" x 9.25", Pointe-au-Pic, Canada, dated September 22, 1914. Addressed to his friend, Dr. Camac, asking him to join him on the ship "Druid" bound for Quebec.
    11. TLS "Wm H Taft". 1p, measuring 7" x 9.25", New Haven, Connecticut, dated November 14, 1914. Addressed to Louis J. Keller, declining an invitation to Indiana.
    12. Check Signed "Wm H Taft". Measuring 8.625" x 3.125", New Haven, Connecticut, dated December 20, 1920. A cancelled check, No. 5921, paying $50 to his son Robert's wife, Martha Bowers Taft.
    13. "Who's Who" Printers Proof with Taft's Handwritten Corrections. 1p, measuring 8.5" x 11", no place, dated October 22, 1923. Emendations read: "In June and July 1922 the subject of this sketch received a degree of Doctor of Civil Law from Oxford University England, a degree of Doctor of Law from Cambridge University England and a degree of Doctor of Law from Aberdeen University Scotland."
    14. TLS "Wm H Taft" as Supreme Court Justice. 1p, measuring 8" x 10.5", Washington, D.C., dated November 21, 1924. Addressed to Charles A. Plumley, President of Norwich University, stating that because of his health he will not be accepting non-Supreme Court efforts.
    15. TLS "Wm H Taft" as Supreme Court Justice. 1p, measuring 5.75" x 7.75", Washington, D.C., dated December 25, 1926. Addressed to Hon. Richard Washburn Child, thanking him for a Christmas Card.
    16. TLS "Wm H Taft" as Supreme Court Justice. 1p, measuring 8" x 10.5", Washington, D.C., dated March 17, 1927. Addressed to Professor Alfred L. Diebolt, discussing a "reciprocity bill" the U.S. passed but Canada did not. With original envelope.
    17. TLS "Wm H Taft" as Supreme Court Justice. 1p, measuring 8" x 10.5", Pointe-au-Pic, Canada, dated September 3, 1929. Addressed to President Hamilton Holt, revealing that he had three "health attacks" during his vacation. He passed away six months later.
    18. TLS "Wm H Taft" as Supreme Court Justice. 1p, measuring 5.75" x 7.75", Pointe-au-Pic, Canada, dated September 21, 1929. Addressed to Hon. J. Waddy Tate, Mayor of Dallas.
    19. Blank Book of Verse Page Signed "Helen H. Taft". 1p, measuring 3.5" x 4", no place, no date. With an additional page of verse.
    20. ALS "Helen H. Taft" on Mourning Stationery. 1p, measuring 5.25" x 6.75", Washington, D.C., dated October 29, 1930. Addressed to Mr. Stave, congratulating him on the 75th anniversary of his paper business.
    21. Free Franked Envelope "Helen H. Taft Free". Measuring 5.625" x 3.5", Pointe-au-Pic, dated August 26, 1933.
    22. Free Franked Postcard "Helen H. Taft Free". Measuring 5.5" x 3.25", no place, hand dated on verso in an unknown hand September 30, 1939.
    23. Signed Card "Helen H Taft/Washington, DC/August 26th".
    24. Postcard and cachet "American's First Ladies" unsigned series. Postmarked Cincinnati, Ohio, January 2, 1978.

    These items are accompanied by additional related materials, including letters from family members and staff, as well as images, postcards, and other ephemera. All are housed in two large 3-ring binders. Varying degrees of wear, soiling, and toning. Bold signatures. Overall very fine.

    William Howard Taft (1857-1930) was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated from Yale College in 1878. After gaining admission to the bar, Taft worked on the Cincinnati Commercial newspaper full time, covering local courts. In 1890, President Benjamin Harrison appointed him as Solicitor General of the United States, a position he held until Harrison appointed him to the United States Court of Appeals, where he served from 1892 to 1900. In 1908, he was elected President of the United States as a Republican over Democrat William Jennings Bryan. After his defeat in the three-way election of 1912, Taft joined the faculty of the Yale Law School, until President Warren G. Harding appointed him as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court in 1921, a position he held until his death nine years later.

    Helen "Nellie" Taft (1861-1943) was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and was one of eleven children. She met Taft at a bobsledding party in 1879, and the couple married in 1886. One of her most lasting contributions as first lady was the arrangement of the planting of 3,020 Japanese cherry trees around the Capitol grounds. After her husband's death in 1930, she served as the honorary vice president of the Colonial Dames of America and the Girl Scouts of the USA.

  4. 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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March 3, 2021 10:30 AM EST
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University Archives

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000