There are Supreme Court collectibles, and then there’s this delightful little piece of SCOTUS history.
A holiday card featuring the late Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sandra Day O’Connor — styled as “The Supremes,” naturally — is heading to auction through Nate D. Sanders Auctions.
And yes, the card is every bit as charming as it sounds.
The card features portraits of the two trailblazing justices, with “Happy Hanukkah” above Ginsburg and “Merry Christmas” above O’Connor, a cheeky nod to their respective faiths. But what makes this particular card special is the handwritten note from RBG inside.
Writing to friends Davideen and Stuart Werner, Ginsburg thanked them for a holiday gift for her grandchildren:
Appreciation for the holiday surprise — one for each grandchild. Just right!
May 1996 be a vintage year for you,
Ruth & Marty.
The “Marty,” of course, is Ginsburg’s beloved late husband, Martin Ginsburg.
It’s a sweet glimpse of the woman behind the jabot — and a reminder of the friendship between the first and second women ever to serve on the Supreme Court. O’Connor joined the Court in 1981, followed by Ginsburg in 1993, leaving the pair as the only women on the nation’s highest court for more than a decade.
The 5-by-7-inch card is described as being in near-fine condition, save for a faint spot on the front. And if you’d like to add this bit of Supreme Court history to your own collection, you’ll need to come prepared: the minimum bid is $2,000, with bidding set to close Thursday, August 27.
For SCOTUS buffs — or anyone who wishes the Supremes were still making holiday cards — this is one piece of legal history that may be worth bidding on.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg Autograph Note, Signed Inside Amusing “Supremes” Holiday Card, Heads to Auction [Nate D. Sanders Auctions]
Staci Zaretsky is the managing editor of Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
