Details:

Willis Van Devanter autographed letter (ALS) on official Supreme Court of the United States letterhead, dated March 11, 1912, written entirely in his hand and signed “Willis Van Devanter.” Addressed to Boston attorney Charles P. Greenough, the letter responds to a request for his autograph that had been conveyed through fellow Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.

Van Devanter writes, in part:

“Mr. Justice Holmes tells me that you wish my autograph. If I had the time I would write or attempt to write a line or two of some moment but just now my engagements are too engrossing to permit of this.”

He concludes, “Very sincerely, Willis Van Devanter.”

Written during Van Devanter’s second year on the Supreme Court, the letter documents a personal introduction facilitated by Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., one of the Court’s most celebrated jurists. The recipient, Charles P. Greenough, was a Boston “Brahmin” and evidently sought Van Devanter’s autograph through Holmes. The brief correspondence offers an appealing connection between two Supreme Court justices while illustrating the growing public interest in members of the nation’s highest court during the early twentieth century.

Very good condition with light toning, expected mailing folds, and minor handling wear. The handwriting and signature remain bold and highly legible.

Willis Van Devanter (1859–1941) served as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court from 1911 to 1937 after his appointment by President William Howard Taft. A leading conservative voice on the Court, he became one of the famed “Four Horsemen,” the bloc of justices who consistently opposed many of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs on constitutional grounds. Before joining the Supreme Court, Van Devanter built a distinguished legal career in the American West and later served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. His opinions and judicial philosophy played a significant role in shaping constitutional law during one of the most transformative periods in American legal history.

Authentication:
Includes a full letter of authenticity from JG Autographs, Inc.

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Reference sku: 11364 1416596-1