History In Ink^™     Historical Autographs

509001

Benjamin N. Cardozo

Benjamin Nathan Cardozo, 1870-1938.  Associate Justice, United States Supreme Court, 1932-1938.  Scarce Autograph Letter Signed, Benjamin N. Cardozo, as Supreme Court Justice, two pages, 5⅛" x 6½", on imprinted personal stationery, Washington, D.C., November 3, 1933.  With original envelope, accomplished entirely in Cardozo's hand, signed B. N. Cardozo in the return address.

Cardozo, the second Jewish member of the Supreme Court, declines an honorary membership on the advisory board of the Hebrew Line Service Association.  “I regret,” he writes, "that my official position makes it impossible for me to become an honorary member of your advisory board.”

This letter is in fine condition.  It has one normal mailing fold and a vertical crease that does not seriously detract.  The paper is torn from a staple at the upper left corner of the first page, and there is a corresponding minor paper loss at the upper right corner of the integral leaf, but neither affects the handwriting or Cardozo's bold signature.  There are also mounting traces on the back of the integral leaf.  The envelope is slightly soiled, bears postal cancellations, and has some mounting traces on the back as well, and a staple hole affects the ”C" in ”Cardozo."  Overall, however, the envelope is also in fine condition.

Cardozo's autograph material is scarce.  Since he served only six years on the Supreme Court, letters written during his tenure as a Justice are particularly desirable.  This one is even more so because it relates to Cardozo's Judiasm. The envelope also provides a second signature.

_____________

This item has been sold, but

click here to see other Supreme Court items

that we are offering.