In this episode of Inspired by History, Rebecca Barry interviews Nathan Raab of The Raab Collection about two newly discovered George Washington letters written from Morristown, New Jersey, in late 1779 and early 1780, during the Revolutionary War. Addressed to Lieutenant Colonel William De Hart of the New Jersey regiments, the letters contain campaign and battlefield instructions, including efforts to counteract local Tories—whom Washington describes as “detestable and pernicious”—and guidance related to a planned invasion of Staten Island, a British stronghold. Raab explains how uncommon it is for significant Washington documents to surface for the first time, describes the letters’ provenance as having remained in one family for centuries, and discusses the process by which heirs and descendants contact The Raab Collection to evaluate and sell inherited materials. The conversation also connects the discovery to America’s 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, predicting increased supply and demand for Founding-era documents and noting interest in artifacts connected to figures such as John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Martha Washington, Abigail Adams, and the Marquis de Lafayette. To learn more visit:

https://www.raabcollection.com/presidential-autographs/washington-protect-american-patriots and https://www.raabcollection.com/presidential-autographs/washingtonp-staten-island-raid

00:00 Welcome to Inspired by History

00:32 Two Newly Discovered Washington Letters

01:40 Meet Lt. Col. William De Hart & Setting the Scene (Morristown, 1779–1780)

02:21 Inside the Letters: Orders, Tories, and the Staten Island Plan

03:31 Holding History: The Thrill of a Never-Before-Seen Washington Letter

04:25 How Family Treasures Surface: The Call That Brought Them In

05:13 America 250: Will the Anniversary Bring More Discoveries?

06:26 Founders, Signatures, and Cross-Party Appeal

07:33 Adding to the Historical Record: Why These Finds Matter

08:25 Wrap-Up and Where to Learn More

On this episode of Inspired by History, Rebecca Barry interviews Nathan Raab, president of The Raab Collection and author of The Hunt for History, about forgery in historical documents, manuscripts, and autographs and how collectors can avoid being deceived.

Raab discusses notable forgers such as Charles Weisberg, Robert Spring, Joseph Cosey, and Lee Israel, noting that some Spring and Cosey forgeries have become collectible and that modern issues often involve high-resolution reproductions that can be hard to detect in scans. He advises lay collectors to buy from trusted, experienced experts and to apply common-sense and contextual tests—matching dates, locations, handwriting, paper, ink, and overall consistency—emphasizing that authenticity is determined by multiple interlocking criteria and a single failure can invalidate a piece. 

Raab recounts uncovering a forged early Abraham Lincoln letter that had been published and offered by a reputable dealer, explaining that problems in the letter’s writing and line quality raised suspicion and underscored the need for skepticism and fresh scrutiny. He distinguishes healthy suspicion of documents from suspicion of sellers, noting many people unknowingly possess forgeries, and he addresses misconceptions about rarity by explaining relative definitions of uncommon, rare, and very rare, including that Lincoln military commissions are desirable but not rare.

To learn more, visit https://www.raabcollection.com/learning#forgery

00:00 Introduction to Inspired by History

00:31 Forgery in Historical Documents: Why It Matters

00:50 Famous Forgers: Spring, Cosey, and the ‘Collectible’ Forgery

02:14 Modern Forgery & High-Res Reproductions in the Internet Age

03:43 Beginner-Proof Advice: How to Avoid Buying Forgeries

05:10 Authenticity Checklist: Context, Paper, Ink, Handwriting & Provenance

07:05 Case Study: The Forged Lincoln Letter

09:38 Healthy Skepticism: History vs. Lore + Don’t Blame the Seller

10:56 When Fakes Come to You: Washington Letter Reproductions

11:39 Misrepresentations: What ‘Rare’ Really Means: Rare vs. Uncommon vs. Unique

12:57 Conclusion

In this special Presidents’ Day episode of Inspired by History, Rebecca Barry interviews Nathan Raab, president of The Raab Collection, about the rich history and enduring appeal of documents signed by George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Nate delves into the types of Washington documents that collectors commonly encounter, ranging from his youth to his retirement. He also discusses market trends, document prices, and the authentication of signatures. Shifting to Lincoln, Nate outlines the variety of documents from Lincoln's life and presidency, touching upon their value and historical significance. The episode provides valuable insights for collectors on what makes a document significant and the best practices for beginning or enhancing a collection of historical documents and autographs. To learn more visit: raabcollection.com

00:00 Introduction to Inspired by History

00:46 Collecting George Washington Documents

02:40 Value and Rarity of Washington's Letters

07:43 Washington's Signature and Forgeries

11:02 Collecting Abraham Lincoln Documents

12:38 Value and Rarity of Lincoln's Letters

16:28 Lincoln's Signature and Forgeries

17:52 Advice for Collectors

20:43 Conclusion and Subscription Information

On this episode of Inspired by History, Rebecca Barry and Nathan Raab discuss a letter written by the Marquis de Lafayette to James Madison from Mount Vernon in 1784. They delve into Lafayette's return to the United States after the Revolutionary War and his deep connections with key American figures, particularly George Washington. The letter, which is unpublished and has been in a private family collection for nearly a century, offers a unique glimpse into the personal and diplomatic relationships among America's Founding Fathers. The conversation highlights the significance of such documents in bringing history to life and the rarity of correspondence between Founders. For more information, visit: https://www.raabcollection.com/foreign-figures-autographs/lafayette-to-madison

00:00 Introduction to Inspired by History

00:31 Lafayette's Return to America

01:55 Lafayette & Washington

03:35 The Content and Context of the Letter

04:11 The Letter's Rarity

06:54 Lafayette's Legacy and Friendship with James Madison

09:00 Conclusion and Podcast Information

On this episode of Inspired by History, Rebecca Barry interviews Nathan Raab of The Raab Collection about a rare letter written by Thomas Jefferson in late 1789, during his final day in France before his return to the United States for good. The discussion explores Jefferson's onerous voyage back to Virginia and the unexpected news awaiting him: that President George Washington had nominated him to be the first Secretary of State. The letter also touches upon his personal affairs and America’s transition post-Revolution. They delve into the provenance and historical significance of the document, highlighting its journey from a Philadelphia bookshop in the 1960s to a private collection and now back into the marketplace where a collector can buy this piece of history. To learn more: https://www.raabcollection.com/presidential-autographs/jefferson-bids-farewell-europe

00:00 Introduction to Inspired by History

00:31 Thomas Jefferson's 1789 Letter from France: Context and Background

01:57 Jefferson's Journey and Unexpected News

03:15 Significance of Jefferson's Return to the U.S. 

04:20 Details of the Letter and Its Recipient

06:14 Provenance of the Letter

07:51 Conclusion and Closing Remarks

On this special episode of Inspired by History, we invited Steven Raab, founder of The Raab Collection, into the studio to discuss his journey from a law career to becoming a full-time dealer in historical documents and autographs. Steven shares stories about his first collectible purchase, the excitement and challenges of the trade, and the evolution of the autograph market over the past 40+ years. The conversation highlights key acquisitions, the importance of authenticity, and Steven's passion for storytelling through historical artifacts. Steven also delves into his personal collecting preferences and reflects on influential figures in his career. And if you missed part 1 of "How to Buy and Sell Historical Documents Like an Expert" with Nathan Raab, check out episode 14.

00:00 Introduction 

00:33 Steven Raab's First Autograph Purchase

01:21 Transition from Law to Autograph Dealing

02:53 Evolution of the Autograph Trade

05:23 Challenges and Joys of Collecting

10:27 Authenticity and Reputation in the Business

11:35 Career Highlights and Memorable Finds

13:19 Advice for Aspiring Collectors

14:08 Early Beginnings and Mentorship

17:06 Conclusion and Farewell

On this episode of Inspired by History, Nathan Raab shares the story of three newly uncovered letters written by George Washington to his trusted Cabinet member Timothy Pickering—documents unseen for over two centuries.

The letters, penned during Washington’s presidency, reveal the first known instance of executive privilege, as Washington debated whether to share sensitive papers on the Jay Treaty with Congress. They also capture his concerns about James Monroe’s diplomacy in France and his efforts to gauge public reaction to the treaty that helped shape America’s early foreign policy.

Nathan discusses how these letters resurfaced through Pickering’s descendants, their historical significance, and what they reveal about Washington as both President and person—measured, thoughtful, and still defining the limits of executive power.

These letters offer a rare glimpse into the early Republic, the birth of American political divisions, and the rediscovery of Washington’s voice in his own hand.

On this episode of Inspired by History, Nathan Raab announces the fascinating discovery of what may be the earliest known example of modern musical notations from Western Europe in private hands. Unearthed from a ninth-century Latin manuscript originally part of a Sacramentary, the notations on this leaf are revealed to be groundbreaking remnants of the Carolingian Renaissance. The episode explores the meticulous process of authenticating these rare documents and the historical significance of Charlemagne's influence on handwriting standardization. Learn about the exciting journey of uncovering these medieval musical notations and their remarkable impact on our understanding of history. To learn more, visit: https://www.raabcollection.com/medieval-manuscripts/earliest-musical-notations

00:00 Introduction to Inspired by History

00:32 Unveiling a Historical Discovery

00:53 The 9th-Century Sacramentary Manuscript

02:21 The Significance of Carolingian Script

03:25 Discovery at Auction

03:44 Musical Notations (Neumes) in Medieval Manuscripts

05:34 Confirming the Discovery

05:55 Research and Historical Context

07:05 The Excitement of Historical Discoveries

08:08 Conclusion

In this episode of Inspired by History, Rebecca Barry interviews Nathan Raab about a newly discovered, unpublished letter of Abraham Lincoln. The episode explores how rare historical documents like this Civil War-era Lincoln letter provide fresh insights into history. They delve into the letter's background, detailing its journey from Lincoln's hands to General Washburn, stationed in Brownsville, Texas, to its recent discovery in a private collection, and discuss the value of Lincoln autographs and letters. The episode also highlights the importance of preserving and studying these documents to deepen our understanding of historical figures and events. To learn more, visit: https://www.raabcollection.com/presidents-autographs/abraham-lincoln-autograph

00:00 Introduction to Inspired by History

00:33 Unveiling a Rare Lincoln Document

02:18 The President’s Correspondent: General Cadwallader Washburn

02:49 The Battle of Brownsville, Texas

05:39 Lincoln's Handwritten Letters

06:09 The Value of Lincoln Documents

06:59 Incorporating this Discovery into Lincoln Scholarship

07:28 Conclusion 

In this episode of Inspired by History, Nathan Raab, president of The Raab Collection, answers some frequently asked questions about historical documents and autographs. Nathan shares insights on how he entered the business, the daily operations of a historical document dealer, and the intricate process of authenticating documents. He emphasizes the importance of quality over quantity in building meaningful collections and discusses the challenges and nuances of the autograph market. The episode also covers how The Raab Collection sources its materials and provides practical advice for new collectors.

00:00 Introduction to Inspired by History

00:34 Meet Nathan Raab: The Historical Document Expert

01:49 The Day-to-Day Life of a Historical Documents Dealer

03:10 The Art of Authenticating Historical Documents

04:53 Selling Historical Documents to The Raab Collection

07:06 The Role of Third-Party Authenticators

14:26 Advice for New Collectors

17:09 Where The Raab Collection Finds Its Treasures

18:55 Conclusion and Contact Information