Sell or Auction Your Department of Justice Circa 1908 to 1927 Badge for up to Over $10,000 or More at Nate D. Sanders Auctions
FREE APPRAISAL. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Department of Justice circa 1908 to 1927 badge that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).
Sell Your Department of Justice Circa 1908 to 1927 Badge
Below is a recent realized price for a Department of Justice circa 1908 to 1927 badge. We at Nate D. Sanders Auctions can obtain up to these amounts or more for you:
Department of Justice Circa 1908 to 1927 Badge. Sold for over $10,000.
Consign your item at Nate D. Sanders Auctions. Send a description and images to us at [email protected].
Here are some recent items that our auction house, Nate D. Sanders (http://www.NateDSanders.com) has sold:
Original 1920’s Prohibition Law Enforcement Badge
Impressive badge worn by a federal agent to enforce Prohibition during the 1920s. Copper badge was issued by the U.S. Treasury’s IRS Bureau of Prohibition, with its shield at center, and reading in full, “BUREAU OF PROHIBITION / AGENT / US TREASURY DEPARTMENT”. With serial number 2390 engraved on reverse. Shield badge measures 1.75″ x 2.25″. Pin on verso is missing and hole at top, otherwise near fine condition. Sold for $4,600.
NYPD Chief of Police uniform coat circa 1898-1902
New York City Police dress coat worn by the Chief of Police from the Consolidation era of 1898 to 1902. Double-breasted frock coat ending one inch above the knee with two rows of buttons on the breast, eight in each row. Coat likely belonged to William S. Devery, who served as the first NYPD Chief between 1898 and 1901. The flamboyant Devery was convicted of bribery and extortion after 13 years with the police and, as such, was dismissed from the force. He appealed the conviction and, upon his reinstatement, began a meteoric rise through the ranks until his appointment as the Chief on 30 June 1898. After stepping down as Chief of Police, Devery went on to co-own the Highlanders baseball team, which later became the New York Yankees. He also helped to build the first Yankees Stadium. Devery served as Chief of Police during the important Consolidation Era, when the police forces in New York City were consolidated into a single force. Because of its historical significance and short time frame (just 1898 to 1902), police items from this era are highly collectible. As there was only a single Chief of Police, this coat is incredibly rare and, indeed, likely unique. Coat perfectly matches a description of the Chief of Police’s uniform published in the NYPD 1898 Rules and Regulations book, proving it wasn’t one of the later, more modern designs. Coat shows some wear, including small holes in the lining and a 2.5″ tear in the seam under the right arm. Also, one button is missing. Excellent condition. Sold for $3,520.
Prohibition-Era ”Repeal the 18th Amendment” 1930 License Plate
Rare ”Repeal 18th Amendment” license plate protests the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which, along with the Volstead Act, prohibited the sale of alcoholic beverages. As the only Constitutional amendment to be repealed completely, it was ratified on 16 January 1919 and repealed on 5 December 1933 by the 21st Amendment. Orange plate with blue lettering measures 10” x 4.25” and is in very good condition. Sold for $1,789.
Clarence Darrow autograph letter signed regarding Prohibition, which Darrow passionately disagreed with from a legal standpoint. Upon his personal stationery, Darrow writes on 27 September (likely 1930) to Dr. Forrest R. Black, a law professor and like-minded colleague. Letter reads,”My Dear Mr. Black / I have just been reading ‘What rights are left’ by Henry Allen Johnson a New York lawyer. It is on a phase of the prohibition question indicated by the title. It is a bully-good book which shows a triumph familiarity with the subject and the holdings of all the courts on the various questions that have arisen under the ‘fool law’. On page 96 he says: an able & scholarly criticism of the Carroll decision will be found in the Columbia Law Review for December 1929, by Professor Forrest R. Black of Univ. of Kentucky – &c &c &c – / I have been thinking a good deal about your papers. They should be published. I am going to N.Y. Nov. 15th I know one or two good publishers that I think might do something with [them]. If you can do send them back to me I will try. Very truly / Clarence Darrow”. Dr. Black would go on to publish ”Ill-starred Prohibition Cases: A Study in Judicial Pathology” in 1931. A P.S. is added to the letter, possibly by Darrow’s secretary. Single page measures 7.25” x 10.5”. Minor toning and creasing, overall very good plus condition. Sold for $1,563.
William Taft typed letter signed to Edward Bok, editor of ”Ladies Home Journal” regarding the recent passage of Prohibition. Composed on Taft’s personal stationery and dated 29 January 1919, less than two weeks after passage of the 18th Amendment and in the years between Taft’s Presidency and term as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Letter reads in full, ”I have your kind note of January 27th, and shall be very glad to write the article which you suggest. I presume you won’t object to my putting into it a few constitutional views as to the reasons why I oppose national prohibition, but now [Taft here inserts by hand: ”that the amendment has passed”] I am in favor of the strongest kind of a law for its enforcement. I am in full sympathy with the proposition that there is no such deprivation of a man’s liberty to prevent the sale of liquor that he has any right to complain of, and I shall elaborate that, as you suggest. Sincerely yours, Wm. H Taft”. An experimentation with forbidding alcohol consumption in the United States, prohibition achieved its goal, though at the cost of increased organized crime throughout the country. Letter measures 7” x 9.5”, in near fine condition. Sold for $1,172.
FREE VALUATION. To buy, auction, sell or consign your Department of Justice circa 1908 to 1927 badge that is for sale, please email your description and photos to [email protected] of Nate D. Sanders Auctions (http://www.NateDSanders.com).