The Outer Limits of Legal Ephemera: Finding Legal History in the Oddest Places

The slightest objects for the collector of the printed word are ephemera, minor items of print that are “not meant to have lasting value.” Ephemera come in all types, including those pieces related to the practice of law.  Traditionally, the collectors of legal ephemera preferred handwritten legal documents like deeds, leases, contracts, and charters. However, the discerning eye can find the legal angle in all kinds of items. This short article will extract the legal history residing in some for unlikely printed objects: Congressional pass, a piece of campaign literature, and a National Football League trading card.