12 Warren Court Era Justices Plus Postmaster General Sign John Jay Stamp Presentation Copy Earmarked for William Douglas

A special presentation copy of the 15-cent John Jay U.S. Postage Stamp, Issue 1958, presented to Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court William O. Douglas. The presentation folder opens to reveal the signatures of twelve Warren Court-era U.S. Supreme Court justice signatures on the left pastedown endpaper; flanked by a stamp block of John Jay stamps and a First Day of Issue John Jay cover signed by U.S. Postmaster General Arthur E. Summerfield found at right. N.d. but almost certainly signed ca. December 1958, when the John Jay stamp was issued. The black leather presentation folder is gilt embossed on the front cover. A few superficial scuffs, else near fine. The presentation folder measures 9.5" x 11.25" x .25." Accompanied by a receipt from Harmer-Schau Auction Galleries, Inc. (Petaluma, California).

The left pastedown endpaper of the presentation folder is signed by the nine U.S. Supreme Court justices of the Warren Court, ca. December 1958 (Warren, Black, Frankfurter, Douglas, Clark, Harlan, Brennan, Whittaker, and Stewart) as well as three former Associate Justices (Reed, Burton, and Minton), the last having retired between 1956 and October 1958. The signers are, from top to bottom:

1. Earl Warren (1891-1974), as "Earl Warren, served as Chief Justice between 1953-1969.

2. Hugo L. Black (1886-1971), as "Hugo L Black," served as Associate Justice between 1937-1971.

3. Felix Frankfurter (1882-1965), as "Felix Frankfurter -", served as Associate Justice between 1939-1962.

4. William O. Douglas (1898-1980), as "Wm O Douglas," served as Associate Justice between 1939-1975.

5. Tom C. Clark (1899-1977), as "Tom C. Clark," served as Associate Justice between 1949-1967.

6. John M. Harlan II (1899-1971), as "John M Harlan," served as Associate Justice between 1955-1971.

7. William J. Brennan, Jr. (1906-1997), as "Wm J Brennan Jr," served as Associate Justice between 1956-1990.

8. Charles Evans Whittaker (1901-1973), as "Charles E. Whittaker," served as Associate Justice between 1957-1962.

9. Potter Stewart (1915-1985), as "Potter Stewart," served as Associate Justice between October 1958-1981.

10. Stanley Reed (1884-1980), as "Stanley Reed," served as Associate Justice between 1938-1957.

11. Harold H. Burton (1888-1964), as "Harold H Burton," served as Associate Justice between 1945 and October 1958.

12. Sherman Minton (1890-1965), as "Sherman Minton," served as Associate Justice between 1949-1956.

Earl Warren led the Supreme Court as its 14th Chief Justice 1953-1969, through the tumultuous years of the Civil Rights movement. He submitted landmark decisions on school segregation, school prayer, voting rights, and other flashpoint issues. Overall, Warren's tenure strengthened the power of the judiciary.

A John Jay stamp block and First Day cover are mounted on cream stock paper and protected under plastic on the opposite side of the presentation folder. The stamp block, serial number 26139, consists of sixteen 15-cent John Jay stamps (actually separated into quarters but mounted with the edges of the segments touching.) The rose lake John Jay stamp was printed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and issued as part of the Liberty Series on December 12, 1958. Near fine. The sight size of the assembled stamp block is 4.5" square. Neither the stamp block nor the envelope have been extracted from the folder or examined outside of the plastic.

A First Day of Issue cover celebrating the John Jay stamp launch is found below the stamp block. The envelope bears a cancelled 15-cent John Jay stamp in the upper right, and was postmarked in Washington, D.C. on December 12, 1958. With a handsome cachet at left. Signed by U.S. Postmaster General Arthur E. Summerfield (1899-1972), as "Arthur E Summerfield" along the bottom. It is currently dislodged from its mounting corners, else near fine.

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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