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

The Raab Collection’s Masterclass Series continues in this episode in which host Rebecca Barry speaks with Nathan Raab, president of The Raab Collection, about how and where to buy historical documents and autographs. Raab explains how the market shifted in the 1990s from mailed dealer catalogs and phone orders to internet-based selling, with wider access, credit card purchasing, and online marketplaces, but also increased risk in a “buyer beware” environment with fewer experienced dealers. He advises that knowledge and authentication matter because mistakes are expensive, and stresses working with reputable sellers who stand behind what they sell. Raab describes his relationship-driven dealer model, access to private collectors and descendants, and ability to offer newly discovered material, contrasting it with auctions, which can yield widely varying prices depending on timing. He also emphasizes specialization and buying what you love at a comfortable price.

00:00 Introduction

00:43 How Buying Historical Documents Used to Work

01:51 Internet Changes Everything

04:23 Online Risks and Trust

05:55 Raab’s Front-Line Access

06:38 Dealers Versus Auctions

08:16 Pricing and Market Reality

10:00 Specialization Matters

11:02 Buy What You Love

12:16 Conclusion

On this episode of Inspired by History, Rebecca Barry interviews Nathan Raab of The Raab Collection about a rare manuscript marking the moment France, led by Napoleon, handed the signed Louisiana Purchase Treaty to U.S. representatives James Monroe and Robert Livingston in 1803, instructing it be delivered to President Thomas Jefferson. Raab describes the key participants, including French negotiator Barbé-Marbois, and explains that the treaty was ultimately carried to the U.S. by Peter Augustus Jay, John Jay’s son, amid delays and concerns that France might reconsider. 

The episode discusses Jefferson’s surprise at the scale of the purchase, constitutional questions it raised, and the document’s significance in enabling westward expansion and explorers like Lewis and Clark. Raab also notes its French formal script and its provenance in the Karpeles Manuscript Library, including its rescue during a 2019 fire.

To learn more: https://www.raabcollection.com/american-history-autographs/louisiana-purchase-manuscript 

00:00 Introduction

00:31 The Louisiana Purchase 

01:31 Where the Treaty Changed Hands

01:52 Who Signed and Delivered It

02:37 Thomas Jefferson, Ratification

03:34 The Manuscript’s Script

04:43 Why It Matters Historically

06:03 Provenance

07:23 Awe of Holding a Piece of History

08:28 Conclusion

The Raab Collection’s Masterclass Series continues in this episode which gives an overview of essential terminology used when buying historical documents and autographs. Nathan Raab, president of The Raab Collection, explains common abbreviations such as ALS (autograph letter signed) versus LS (letter signed, written by someone else but signed by the named person), TLS (typed letter signed), AMS (autograph manuscript signed), DS and ADS (document signed versus autograph document signed), and SP (signed photo), with examples involving figures like George Washington, Winston Churchill, and Abraham Lincoln. He also defines “secretarial signed” items, discusses clipped signatures and their relative value depending on context and rarity, and reviews condition terms collectors encounter, including foxing, separations at folds, silking, and lamination/encapsulation. The episode emphasizes reading document descriptions carefully and asking sellers to clarify unfamiliar terms.

00:00 Introduction 

00:27 Collector jargon basics

01:01 ALS vs LS explained

02:31 Typed letters TLS

03:06 Manuscripts AMS

04:27 Documents DS and ADS

06:13 Photos and Catalog Terms

07:24 Secretarial Signatures

08:36 Clipped Signatures

09:15 Value Depends on Context

11:22 Condition Terminology

15:33 Why Abbreviations Exist

16:15 Ask the Seller

17:44 Conclusion

On this episode of Inspired by History, Nathan Raab of The Raab Collection tells us about a newly acquired, previously unknown manuscript diary written by Founding Father John Jay during his 1794 London mission to negotiate the Jay Treaty. He describes the treaty as the Washington administration’s first major diplomatic effort to resolve lingering post-Revolution issues including British forts in the Northwest, debts, and impressment at sea, and notes Jay served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court while negotiating. The diary, passed down in Jay’s family for 230 years and never before offered for sale, meticulously logs Jay’s daily visits and invitations with dates and addresses, documenting meetings with figures such as Lord Grenville, royals, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Jeremy Bentham, Angelica Schuyler Church, artists, merchants, and abolitionists including William Wilberforce. Raab describes the diary’s research potential as a material addition to scholarship and discusses possible institutional or private buyers. For more information, visit: https://www.raabcollection.com/american-history-autographs/jay-diary-us-first-national-treaty

00:00 Introduction

00:32 The John Jay Diary Discovery

01:03 Why the Jay Treaty Mattered

02:24 John Jay’s Role in Government

03:08 Where the Diary Has Been

03:41 Inside the Diary’s Structure

05:13 Who Jay Met in London

06:47 Holding History in Hand

07:34 How Scholars Will Use It

09:47 Rarity of Jay Documents

10:50 Unexpected Finds and Buyers

12:37 A Gift to History, Conclusion