Inspired by History

For the eighth episode in The Raab Collection's Masterclass Series on starting and building a collection of historical documents, Nathan Raab, president of The Raab Collection, discusses the state of autograph and historical document collecting in the 21st century. 

How have values changed: Rising prices as supply shrinks and global demand grows, pushing top-tier material closer to the fine art market and making it harder to acquire. 

The impact of the internet: The decentralization of the hobby through online marketplaces and auctions creates both opportunity and major risk, increasing the need for trusted dealers and long-earned expertise in authenticity and valuation. 

Market trends: Raab argues collectors should buy what they love rather than chase micro-trends, noting some cultural fads (Hamilton, John Adams, Civil War media) influenced markets while others (Mary Todd Lincoln) did not, and that enduring figures who’ve “made the cut” remain fairly constant. 

On AI: AI is a limited research aid that often errs on importance and valuation and cannot replace the experience or appeal of handling real historical artifacts.

00:00 Welcome

00:56 Prices and Scarcity

02:18 How the Internet Changed Everything

04:26 Risks Need Experts

05:42 Ignore Market Fads

09:05 Who Makes the Cut

09:49 AI as a Collecting Tool?

14:01 The Future of Collecting

16:38 The Appeal of Analog

19:45 Conclusion

For the seventh episode in The Raab Collection's Masterclass Series on starting and building a collection of historical documents, Nathan Raab, president of The Raab Collection, discusses how to care for historical documents: preservation basics, storage, framing, and more. 

Raab emphasizes that most paper preservation is common sense: avoid extended direct sunlight, household dirt and oils, and water, and keep documents in a comfortable, stable environment. He recommends using readily available archival (acid-free) sleeves, folders, or frames, and working with experienced fine arts framers who use proper archival hinging and materials. Raab explains that durability varies by material (e.g., medieval vellum vs. brittle 20th-century wood-pulp paper) and that some cases may require conservators. He discourages white gloves for typical handling, advocating clean, dry bare hands for dexterity, while noting rare fragile exceptions. 

For more on so-called archival white gloves, check out episode 2 of Inspired by History: Debunking the White Glove Myth.

00:00 Caring for Historical Documents

01:42 Preservation Basics

03:14 Environment and Storage

05:07 Archival Materials and Paper Types

08:08 The White Glove Myth

11:10 A Collector's Responsibility

12:52 Raab Collection Guidance

13:49 Conclusion

In this episode of “Inspired by History,” host Rebecca Barry speaks with Nathan Raab about a newly discovered Susan B. Anthony letter addressed to President Ulysses S. Grant, written one week after her 1872 arrest for illegally voting. Raab describes the letter as exceptionally personal, defiant, and emotionally charged, emphasizing Anthony’s argument that voting is a fundamental right of U.S. citizenship and contrasting a true republic with subjects of the British Empire; she underlines key phrases such as “illegal voting” and “fundamental rights of the United States citizen,” and signs “on behalf of all women citizens.” Raab explains the letter surfaced in a private collection and notes his authentication research found no record of it in Anthony or Grant papers, suggesting it may have been an unsent draft and highlighting how hidden history can still emerge. To learn more, visit: https://www.raabcollection.com/american-history-autographs/anthony-equal-rights

00:00 Introduction

00:32 Susan B. Anthony Letter, 1872

01:04 Initial Reactions

02:37 Historical Discovery

03:19 Key Arguments to President Grant

04:21 Voting Rights & Citizenship

07:45 Hidden History

10:52 Why It Matters Today

12:21 Conclusion

For the sixth episode in The Raab Collection's Masterclass Series on starting and building a collection of historical documents, Nathan Raab, president of The Raab Collection, discusses how and why to create a focus for your collection.

Why do people collect what they collect? Raab explains that collecting is a self-exploration process best driven by passion rather than rigid strategy. He notes a market shift from broader “era” collecting toward major “Mount Rushmore” figures like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, often motivated by admiration for leadership in adversity. Focus is important, and coherence is largely defined by the collector’s own goals. Good advisors provide context on rarity and quality without dictating taste. Experienced collectors develop patience, decisiveness, and self-knowledge. Great collections are distinguished by the collector’s knowledge, not budget.

00:00 Introduction

00:30 Finding Your Focus

01:55 Passion Over Strategy

02:44 How Trends Have Shifted

04:17 Old World Washington Collection

05:42 Why Leadership & Adversity Inspire

06:55 What Makes Coherence in a Collection

08:48 Guidance and Rarity

09:42 Collecting Against the Crowd

11:13 Beginner vs Veteran Mindset

13:03 What Makes a Great Collection

14:28 Conclusion

On this episode of Inspired by History, Nathan Raab of The Raab Collection gives a behind-the-scenes account of a recent major acquisition: a Revolutionary War document collection kept in one family for nearly a century. Totaling hundreds of pages, the collection is heavily focused on George Washington and his circle. Raab describes the vetting process from initial contact to reviewing scans, examining the full group in person, and then researching, cataloging, and preparing to place the collection. Highlights include four Washington letters, including one to Robert Morris signed by Washington with the body in Alexander Hamilton’s hand forwarding a confidential message from the imprisoned Charles Lee; plus letters to Henry Knox and one mentioning Lafayette. The collection also includes uncommon war-date material from figures such as John Hancock, Aaron Burr, Benedict Arnold, General Cornwallis, Israel Putnam, and others, much of it tied to 1777–1779 New Jersey/New York encampments. Raab notes it would cost seven figures and great patience to assemble today.

00:00 Introduction

00:32 A Revolutionary Collection

01:05 First Contact and Verification

02:15 Viewing and Acquiring

04:06 Cataloging and Next Steps

04:58 Washington Letters Highlights

07:09 Collector Taste and Rarity

10:57 Cornwallis and Other Gems

11:55 NY/NJ Geography and Encampments

12:45 Building a Collection Like This Today

13:55 America 250 and Closing

On this special episode of Inspired by History, Rebecca Barry interviews Stephen Raab, founder of The Raab Collection, about influential autograph dealers of the past, prompted by a recent acquisition of a major Revolutionary War document collection assembled in the mid-20th century with many original dealer receipts. Raab traces the field’s origins to Walter Benjamin, inspired by his father Park Benjamin’s literary and political circle, and notes how Walter’s daughter Mary Benjamin ran the Walter R. Benjamin firm for decades, becoming a leading authority on authenticity and pricing. They discuss other major figures including Charles Hamilton, the Sessler firm and mentor Mabel Zahn (who trained Neale Lanigan, Raab’s teacher), A.S.W. Rosenbach, Thomas Madigan, Joseph Rubinfine, and Bob Batchelder. Raab explains that receipts from top dealers signal authenticity and exceptional taste, and observes that mid-century collecting was the heyday, with far more top material available than today.

00:00 Introduction

00:25 New Acquisition Backstory

01:07 Origins of Walter Benjamin

02:52 Mary Benjamin Legacy

03:37 Mentorship Lineage

05:38 Charles Hamilton Spotlight

07:22 Why Dealer Receipts Matter

08:37 Other Legendary Dealers

11:02 Dealer Catalogs

11:51 How the Business Changed

12:26 Heyday and Value Today

13:07 Closing Reflections

For the fifth in The Raab Collection's Masterclass Series on starting and building a collection of historical documents, Nathan Raab, president of The Raab Collection, focuses on historical document authentication and forgery. 

Raab explains that experts begin with an intuitive “feel” developed over decades of experience, then confirm it through many interlocking checks: paper, ink, format, showthrough, handwriting details (including numbers and line quality), autographs, and whether the signer was in the right place at the right time. He notes signatures are often examined last because forgers practice them, and describes modern challenges like glossy signed photographs and high-resolution reproductions, as well as tools such as microscopy, specialized lighting, and ink-movement tests. The discussion also covers the value of reputable dealers’ lifetime guarantees and the limitations of third-party certificates of authenticity. They also dip into notable forgers and an example of uncovering a forged Abraham Lincoln letter.

00:00 Introduction

00:49 The Expert Gut Check

02:41 Authentication Touchpoints

05:30 Modern Photo Pitfalls

07:02 Tools and Techniques

08:01 Collector Learning Curve

10:15 Guarantees and COAs

13:07 Famous Forgers and Fakes

16:18 Avoiding Forgeries: The Basics

19:29 Lincoln Forgery Case Study

22:33 Healthy Skepticism Mindset

24:12 Conclusion

On this episode of Inspired by History, Nathan Raab of The Raab Collection discusses two newly discovered Theodore Roosevelt documents from the October 14, 1912 Milwaukee assassination attempt. Raab describes discovering and acquiring Page 1 of Roosevelt’s prepared campaign speech, a small typed sheet from the manuscript folded in his pocket and pierced by two bullet holes, also bearing Roosevelt’s own handwritten notation and autograph. Raab notes that it is the only such annotated page from the TR “Bullet-Hole” manuscript ever known to appear for sale. He also describes a second find: Roosevelt’s hand-corrected copy of the speech he actually delivered after being shot, transcribed and typed by his stenographer Elbert Martin, with over 100 edits reflecting how Roosevelt wanted the event memorialized. Both pieces had been in a private collection for nearly a century.  

To learn more, visit: https://www.raabcollection.com/presidential-autographs/roosevelt-speech-handwritten and https://www.raabcollection.com/presidential-autographs/roosevelt-speech-bullet

00:00 Introduction

00:32 Theodore Roosevelt’s Attempted Assassination in 1912

01:16 The “Bullet-Hole” Manuscript

02:10 Resilience and Rarity

05:24 Holding History in Your Hands

06:34 How it Changed American History

08:50 A Second Document Revealed

09:08 Stenographer Captures Speech

10:41 Roosevelt Edits the Transcript

13:14 Historical Research & Provenance 

14:37 Conclusion

The Raab Collection’s Masterclass Series continues in this episode in which Nathan Raab discusses what to look for when buying historical documents. He emphasizes that “content is king” because value and excitement come from historical importance: who created the document and what they were doing, with examples contrasting routine Washington letters with those revealing character or major events. Raab advises collectors to buy what they love rather than what others recommend, be patient, work with knowledgeable reputable people, and buy fewer but more important pieces, noting examples of costly, poorly chosen collections and meaningful collections built on modest means. Condition is another issue, which Raab views as a sliding scale—natural wear is expected, some damage can be conserved, sun fading can be a dealbreaker, and sometimes flaws are part of a document’s story. Another factor is provenance, although that is often incomplete when working with documents that are hundreds of years old.

00:00 Introduction

00:38 Why Content Is King

02:23 Best Era to Collect

03:53 Collect What You Love

07:32 Condition Dealbreakers

10:50 Historical Wear and Tear

13:47 Provenance and Paper Trail

16:28 Final Buying Mindset

18:23 Conclusion

On this episode of Inspired by History, Nathan Raab of The Raab Collection introduces us to a rare Winston Churchill letter written in mid-August 1939, weeks before Germany invaded Poland and started World War II. Churchill, then a backbench MP outside Neville Chamberlain’s Cabinet, visits France to inspect the Rhine sector of the Maginot Line because he believes a crisis is imminent and questions Allied preparedness. The letter notes he may extend his stay if there is no crisis and reflects his growing certainty that Germany intends to wage war soon. Churchill also reports urging the Secretary of State to use “compulsory powers” for national mobilization, an issue that culminated in legislation the following month. Raab explains the letter’s rarity as evidence of Churchill’s foresight and leadership before he became First Lord of the Admiralty and later Prime Minister.

For more information, visit: https://www.raabcollection.com/foreign-figures-autographs/churchill-maginot-line 

00:00 Introduction

00:33 Churchill Before the War

01:00 A Lone Voice in Parliament

03:28 Trip to Inspect Maginot Line

04:52 The Content of this Historic Letter

05:24 Compulsory Powers 

06:33 Foresight and Legacy

07:38 Rarity and Value of Churchill Letters

09:08 Conclusion