Red Scare Trial: Judge Medina’s Album, with Original Drawing
Original ink and wash drawing of Judge Harold R. Medina in his courtroom, presiding over the 1949 trial of leaders of the U.S. Communist Party, at Foley Square. [With:] A large portfolio of reproductions of Sharp’s illustrations from the trial, specially bound for Judge Medina.
[New York: 1949].
Price: $2,500.00
About the item
Pen and ink on watercolor paper, image 10 x 20 inches on larger sheet (one margin toned). Illustrations in photo reproduction, most 8 x 18 inches mounted on black board. 1 vols. Oblong folio. Red Scare Trial: Judge Medina’s Album, with Original Drawing. Full green morocco, stamped in gilt, with full red morocco doublures, silk endleaves by (Whitman) Bennett, N.Y. Faintest traces of rubbing, but overall fine. Provenance: the Library of Judge Harold Medina.
Item #61207
Large souvenir album prepared for Harold R. Medina, the judge who presided over the 1949 trial of Communist conspirators in New York City. The trial of party chairman William Z. Foster, Gus Hall, and 10 other prominent Reds was the culmination of several years of FBI investigation of Communist activities. It garnered worldwide publicity and lasted nine contentious months against a backdrop of acrimonious exchanges between Judge Medina and the defense attorneys. Medina charged the defense with delaying tactics, trifling, unnecessary jury challenges, and contempt; the defense attorneys claimed judicial bias, racism in the jury selection, and infringements upon the freedom of the press.
Artist William Sharp also illustrated the Limited Editions Club Poe (1941) and Pepys (1942).
A unique and superbly visual record of a key episode in postwar American history.
