Inspired by History

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Barry interviews Nathan Raab, president of The Raab Collection and author of The Hunt for History, about forgery in historical documents, manuscripts, and autographs and how collectors can avoid being deceived.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