Supreme Court Autographs, Signed Documents and Memorabilia

Collecting Supreme Court autographs, signatures, signed letters, and signed documents of the leading personalities in the field of American legal history is very popular.  Lawyers have to be aware of legal history, and many are interested in the Supreme Court autographs of the legal personalities who created them.  John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, served in many capacities of the new American government, but his autograph signature is not common today.  Oliver Ellsworth, the second Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, is much more available in signed documents because of a group of Revolutionary War pay warrants that were discovered some years ago.   Collectors today are not as much interested in Ellsworth as a person as in the position he held, and his autograph signature is relatively available on the market.  John Marshall, the most important Chief Justice of the early period, who presided over the Supreme Court at the most critical time, when the new Constitution was being interpreted, is available in signed letters and signed documents, and the demand for his autograph pieces is reflected in the value.  Marshall's successor, Roger B. Tany, served for nearly as long a period and his autograph is also popular, though less so, with collectors.  He is most noted for the Dred Scott Decision and for upholding federal rights over state’s rights in his opinions.  Signed documents and signed letters written in various capacities come onto the market with some frequency.

In 1902, one of the most important and influential justices ever to serve on the Supreme Court was appointed.  The son of the famous American author, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., made a reputation for himself in legal history that far exceeded his father's reputation in literature.  Signed letters of Holmes are usually available for collectors and there is a considerable demand for them.  Charles Evans Hughes was Chief Justice during this period, and because of his long government service, signed letters are relatively common.  Louis D. Brandeis was the first Jewish member of the Supreme Court and, as such, is of interest to those interested in Jewish history as well as legal history.  His long legal career gave him opportunity to sign many letters, and fine examples of this autograph can generally be found.  Felix Frankfurter, founder of the American Civil Liberties Union, was also in a position to sign many letters, and they are usually found without difficulty.

Please browse our selection of Supreme Court autographs, signed documents and memorabilia or you may search our entire inventory alphabetically, by name or by category.