Inspired by History

On this episode of Inspired by History, Nathan Raab unveils a newly discovered Revolutionary War manuscript: a 60-page Valley Forge orderly book recording George Washington’s General Orders day by day for the month of May 1778, written contemporaneously by Othniel Taylor of the 10th Massachusetts. Raab explains how such books preserved orders across the storied encampment and how this example differs from the published Richard Varick copies, containing previously unknown and unpublished material. The orders document the army’s transition from hardship to a professional fighting force, including news of the French alliance, the rise of Baron von Steuben and increased discipline, fears of British attack, and preparations to march. The manuscript also references Black soldiers, women acting as nurses, and figures including Alexander Hamilton, Nathanael Greene, and Henry Knox, underscoring its rarity and significance.

00:00 Introduction

00:44 The Valley Forge Encampment

02:18 Why This Manuscript Matters

03:53 Researching Othniel Taylor

04:10 How Orderly Books Worked

04:53 Comparing to Known Copies

06:06 The Discovery Call 

07:17 Inside the 60 Pages

07:36 Black Soldiers and Women

08:39 Washington Discipline and Steuben

09:29 Conclusion

Nathan Raab of The Raab Collection reveals a rare manuscript giving a lengthy, firsthand account of Revolutionary War leader Baron von Steuben, written in 1813–1814 by his former aide William North. Raab highlights von Steuben’s arrival in 1777, his role at Valley Forge training Washington’s army and creating a lasting manual of discipline, his service as inspector general and major general, his work in the southern theater under Nathanael Greene, and his presence at Yorktown, as well as continued postwar service. North wrote the narrative amid fears that the founding generation’s memories would be lost; much of it later appeared in The American Magazine under the pseudonym “Americanus,” with the editor privately identifying North to Thomas Jefferson. Raab emphasizes the manuscript’s value as an uncommonly intimate biography, noting emotional details such as von Steuben’s grief at the King of Prussia’s death and his vivid descriptions of Valley Forge hardships.

To learn more visit: https://www.raabcollection.com/american-history-autographs/steuben-revolutionary-war

00:00 Introduction

00:32 Baron von Steuben’s Life & Legacy

01:14 Von Steuben and George Washington

02:12 A Biographical Account

03:46 From Manuscript to Print

04:52 What Makes It Valuable

06:00 Emotional Moments Inside

07:23 Rarity and Final Thoughts

07:51 Conclusion

Nathan Raab of The Raab Collection introduces a 1754 New York City indenture that conveys land to the Corporation of the City of New York for a public street and notes the parcel is bounded by the Mill Street Synagogue, described as the earliest purpose-built synagogue in what is now the United States and, at the time, the only one. Raab explains why the large vellum manuscript is significant: it offers a rare, unintended glimpse of American Jews practicing openly and being accepted within the city’s civic and geographic structure, with the resulting pathway later known as “Jews’ Alley.” The document also bears the signature of lawyer James Alexander, linked to the famous Peter Zenger trial, and connects to a congregation that still exists today. 

To learn more, visit: https://www.raabcollection.com/american-history-autographs/earliest-synagogue-reference

00:00 Introduction

00:31 Mill Street Synagogue in NYC 

00:54 What this Manuscript Records

01:22 Why This Historical Document Matters

03:25 Jews’ Alley and Civic Recognition

05:50 Freedom to Worship 

06:49 Mill Street Today

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