Distillery Warehouse Stamp - 1880's dated Internal Revenue - Some of These are Signed by William Howard Taft

Unissued Internal Revenue Stamp. Engraved portrait of Zachary Taylor. Scarce! Several of these documents bear the signature of William Howard Taft. Following his admission to the Ohio bar, Taft committed himself fully to his position at the Commercial. Halstead expressed a willingness to retain him permanently with a higher salary, contingent upon his departure from the legal profession, but Taft declined the offer. In October 1880, he was appointed as the assistant prosecutor for Hamilton County, where Cincinnati is situated, and he assumed office the following January. Taft served in this role for one year, handling a variety of routine cases. He resigned in January 1882 after being appointed by President Chester A. Arthur as the Collector of Internal Revenue for Ohio's First District, which encompasses Cincinnati. Taft chose not to dismiss capable employees who were politically unpopular and ultimately resigned in March 1883, informing Arthur of his desire to return to private practice in Cincinnati. In 1884, Taft actively supported the Republican presidential candidate, Maine Senator James G. Blaine, who was defeated by New York Governor Grover Cleveland.