Click on Image To Enlarge
autographs
autographs |
|
Document 259192
LEARNED HAND
A frank letter of recommendation to a former judge.
ALS: "Learned Hand", 3p, 5¾x6¾. Windsor, Vt., 1956 September 7.
To Mr. Williams. In full: "I am writing in support of the application
of George W. Martin, Jr., for a place on your staff, which his father
writes me that he has filed, and which he also says would or might be helped if
some federal judge wrote that he knew him and approved of him. I have known his
father for over fifty years; he is a close friend and one whose courage, wisdom
and integrity cannot be easily surpassed (no doubt, my affections do bias me but
that's what I think). I knew his grandfather from my early manhood and even
before that; he was of the same. As for George himself, I have seen him grow up
from boyhood; and, although I cannot say much about his legal attainments, as I
have had no chance opportunity to measure them, I believe that
I take no chances when I say that I would trust him with everything I have. If
he is not a young man on whose honor and uprightness one can rely, I do not know
anybody one who is. Incidentally, it will do no harm, I
believe, that he has a very pleasant sense of humor, does not take himself too
seriously, and gets along amicably with his own age. I should think you would
find him most useful; and he is anxious, I understand, to get experience under
you." Postscript at top of letterhead: "#(Good God, I forgot for
the moment that you had been a judge!!!)" Penned on his personal stationery:
"Judge Learned Hand's Chambers/United States Court House/New York". Learned Hand
(1872-1961) received his law degree from Harvard in 1896. He was a Judge of the
U.S. District Court for New York's Southern District (1909-1924) and of the
Federal Second Circuit Court of Appeals (1924-1951). He never served on the
Supreme Court but was often called the "tenth Justice of the Supreme Court", and
was regarded as one of the finest jurists in American history. Hand
delivered more than 2,000 opinions. He was noted especially as a defender of
free speech and is regarded by many as the greatest judge never to be appointed
to the Supreme Court. Folds, light vertical fold touches the "r" in Learned.
Staple holes at left blank margin of first page. Pencil notes (unknown hand) at
left margin of first page. Light ink show through. Overall, fine
condition.
SEE IF DOCUMENT 259192 IS FOR SALE RIGHT NOW!!
This document was available for sale in a previous
auction. It may or may not be currently available for sale. It is also highly likely that
we have more of this personality available for sale either in our archives or on our direct
purchase website www.historyforsale.com.
For direct purchase information, call 1-800-GALLERY (1-800-425-5379)
Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm Pacific Time or email inquires
to sales@galleryofhistory.com.
RIGHT NOW YOU CAN BID ON A SIMILAR ITEM IN OUR
CURRENT AUCTION!
|
|
