For just $8.50, Tyrone Yates bought himself a bit of history.

        At first glance, the tattered blue binding of the two-volume set of Lord James Bryce's The American Commonwealth Mr. Yates bought at the Ohio Book Store downtown appears unremarkable. And, for the most part, it is.

Tyrone Yates bought a two-volume set of The American Commonwealth and found the author's letter to President Taft inside. (Tony Jones photos) | ZOOM |

        It's the 91-year-old letter to President William Howard Taft glued between the front pages of the first volume that's the real find.

        Mr. Yates, who served eight years on Cincinnati City Council before term limits ended his tenure in 1999, knew immediately he'd found something special.

        “I became very anxious and said to myself: "Gee whiz! Am I in heaven or what?'” he said.

        Yellowed with age and comprised of loopy, inky swirls, the handwritten correspondence appears to be a quick note from the book's author explaining why he is giving copies of his work to the 27th U.S. president and Cincinnati native.

        Dated Jan. 24, 1911, the letter is written on stationery from the British Embassy and is embossed with a White House stamp to prove it was received.

        Apparently, Lord Bryce, who served as the British ambassador to the United States from 1907 to 1913, liked President Taft very much.

The letter is dated “Jan. 24th, 1911.” | ZOOM |

        In the letter, he called his gift “a token of respect and admiration not only to this head of state, but to one whose constant kindness is and always has been most highly valued.”

        The volumes are an 1898 revision of Lord Bryce's well-known analysis of American politics and social institutions.

        Exactly what significance the find may have is unknown.

        Mr. Yates, a former adjunct associate professor of political science at University of Cincinnati, who now works as a public defender with the Hamilton County Juvenile Court, has yet to have the letter appraised.

        He'll use the book to research a biography he's writing about James Meredith, the first African-American to integrate the University of Mississippi in 1962.

        The Lord Bryce text was one of many then-President John F. Kennedy consulted before sending more than 22,000 National Guard troops to Mississippi to ensure Mr. Meredith's admittance, Mr. Yates said.

        Mr. Meredith, who was a professor at UC, was in Cincinnati from 1985-1990.

        Ray Henderson, chief of interpretation with the National Park Service-William Howard Taft National Historic Site in Mount Auburn, said President Taft received many gifts during his term in office.

        Because the letter was written by a noted British author, educator and diplomat it might have more value to the British government than it would here.

        Nevertheless, Mr. Henderson said, his agency wouldn't turn the letter away if Mr. Yates opted to donate it.

        Jim Fallen, owner of the Ohio Book Store, 726 Main St. downtown, said he was pleased with Mr. Yates' find.

        That it was discovered inside a book which he'd price-marked himself is of no consequence.

        “It's been sitting on the shelf for some time,” Mr. Fallen said, adding that he has had as many as 25 copies at one time. His store specializes in used, scarce or rare books.

        Mr. Fallen was uncertain how the two-volume set came to be in his store.

        It appears to have belonged to the library of President Taft's son, Charles Phelps Taft II, a one-time Cincinnati mayor and councilman.

        Mr. Yates speculated that the younger Mr. Taft might have given the book away or his estate might have sold it.

        “It goes to show there are great finds in the numerous and excellent bookstores in our area,” Mr. Yates said. “A find like this makes months and even years of effort worthwhile.”

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