Inspired by History

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, exam...

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...

For the fifth in The Raab Collection's Masterclass Series on starting and building a collection of historical documents, Nathan Raab, president of The Raab Collection, focuses on historical document authentication and forgery.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

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’...

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Collection’s Masterclass Series continues in this episode in which Nathan Raab discusses what to look for when buying historical documents.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....

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...

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 market...

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 negotia...

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 (...

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...

On this episode of Inspired by History, Rebecca Barry interviews Steven Raab, founder of The Raab Collection, to launch a series on starting and building a collection of historical documents. Episode 1 focuses on why people collect. Raab traces collecting from ancient Greece’s preservation of important texts and Roman-era autograph shops to modern autograph collecting, highlighting Walter Benjamin...

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 effor...

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 forge...

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 trend...

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 fa...

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 h...

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+ year...

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 Trea...

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 explore...

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 Brown...

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...

In this episode of Inspired by History, Nathan Raab recounts the discovery and acquisition of President Ronald Reagan’s original, handwritten “Are You Better Off” speech, his closing statement from the 1980 presidential debate against Jimmy Carter. Raab delves into the manuscript's origins, its long-hidden existence, and its lasting impact on American political rhetoric. The manuscript also co...

In this episode of Inspired by History, Rebecca Barry interviews Nathan Raab about an archive of documents related to Paul Revere and a Colonial-era church in Massachusetts. The conversation covers Revere’s historical significance during the American Revolution, the rarity of his autograph, and the context of these historical documents which span from 1760 to 1809. Highlighting the journey of Reve...

In this episode of Inspired by History, Rebecca Barry interviews Nathan Raab, president of the Raab Collection, about a recently surfaced, unpublished letter from JRR Tolkien. The letter, acquired by the Raab Collection, features Tolkien discussing his characters and providing permission to a fan to name his golden retriever after one of them. They delve into the historical significance and market...

In this special episode of Inspired by History, Rebecca Barry and Nathan Raab welcome Mayor Viktor Šimunić, mayor of the Croatian town of Oroslavja, Croatia, to discuss the acquisition of Joseph Mikulec’s remarkable autograph book.  This artifact, containing tens of thousands of signatures from prominent figures of the early 20th century, was lost to history until rediscovered by Nathan Raab. Mayo...