Taft William
Taft Introduction for World War I Book, Ex-Forbes


WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT, Autograph Letter Signed, to Mr. Barrie, July 20, 1915, New Haven, Connecticut. On “William H. Taft” stationery. 3 pp., 5" x 7.875". Holes punched in all pages, minimally affecting two words; residue of adhesive from being pasted in album; indent and minor staining from paper clip.


In 1915, George Barrie’s Sons of Philadelphia published the first volume of The Great War by historian George H. Allen, Colonel Henry C. Whitehead of the U.S. Army, and Admrial F. E. Chadwick of the U.S. Navy. In this letter, former President William Howard Taft writes to Mr. Barrie enclosing an introduction for the volume.


Born in Scotland, George Barrie (1843-1918) was a publisher in Philadelphia in the late nineteenth century. His two sons, Robert Barrie (1866-1952) and George Barrie Jr. (1879-1966), eventually joined the business and continued it into the twentieth century. George Barrie’s Sons published four more volumes by the same authors over the next six years that covered the remainder of World War I. It is unclear to which Mr. Barrie Taft addressed this letter.


Complete Transcript

July 20th 1915

Dear Mr. Barrie,

By last night’s mail I sent you the preface. It is about five thousand words. It has taken me a good deal of time. The truth is I grew to be interested in it and I took time from other work I had on hand to express myself.

For such an article as this from the Saturday Evening Post, I am in habit of receiving a thousand dollars. In view of the circumstances, however, I think it would be fair for you to send me five hundred dollars. You asked me for a preface of 1000 words. This is more like a review of 5000. Of course, I wish to be just as you do. Whatever you conclude, will I am sure, be right. I return your check for $25000.

Very sincerely yours

Wm H Taft

William Howard Taft (1857-1930) was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and graduated from Yale College in 1878. He received a bachelor of laws degree in 1880 from Cincinnati Law School. After gaining admission to the bar, Taft worked on the Cincinnati Commercial newspaper full time, covering local courts. After a brief stint as an assistant prosecutor, Taft was appointed to the Superior Court of Cincinnati in 1887. In 1890, President Benjamin Harrison appointed him as Solicitor General of the United States, a position he held until Harrison appointed him to the United States Court of Appeals, where he served from 1892 to 1900. He was Governor-General of the Philippines from 1901 to 1903, then Secretary of War under President Theodore Roosevelt from 1904 to 1908. In 1908, he was elected President of the United States as a Republican over Democrat William Jennings Bryan. After his defeat in the three-way election of 1912, Taft joined the faculty of the Yale Law School, until President Warren G. Harding appointed him as Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court in 1921, a position he held until his death nine years later.

Ex-Forbes Collection. Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990), the American owner-publisher of Forbes magazine and a consummate collector, amassed one of the most substantial autograph collections of such breadth and depth that it filled a half-dozen residences on three continents. Many of his manuscripts were sold in a series of multi-million dollar sales by Christie's in the early 2000s. The Forbes name is considered to be the apex of provenance, especially when attached to an item like the above. We are honored to have been chosen by the family to sell at auction the substantial balance of the collection.

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.


WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE.