Justice Felix Frankfurter TLS "on modern jurisprudence…see how the labor will grow under your hands"

1p typed letter signed by U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Felix Frankfurter (1882-1965) as "Felix Frankfurter" at bottom right. Written in the "Chambers of Justice Felix Frankfurter" in Washington, D.C. on October 3, 1939. On watermarked cream stationery with "Supreme Court of the United States / Washington, D.C." letterhead embossed in black at top. Expected paper folds, and a light paper clip impression found at upper left. Else near fine. 5.75" x 9".

Associate Justice Felix Frankfurter wrote this letter to fellow judge Thomas F. McAllister (1896-1976) of Michigan.

In part:

"You who feel the need of such a volume on modern jurisprudence as you have so excitingly adumbrated in your letter, are the man to execute it. Why not? Just begin on it and see how the labor will grow under your hands. I am very serious about it, because I am sure the need which you feel is felt by many of us in all the walks of the profession…"

Cursory research does not suggest that McAllister ever wrote the book on American law that Justice Frankfurter urged him to.

An Austrian Jewish immigrant, Felix Frankfurter graduated from Harvard Law School with a superb academic record; he later taught there. The New York lawyer was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court by 33rd U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, whose close advisor he later became. Frankfurter served on the bench from 1941 until retirement in 1962.

Thomas McAllister served as a judge in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit between 1941-1976 in various capacities including Chief Judge. The Sixth Circuit served a geographical region encompassing parts of Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

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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