Important Autographs and Manuscripts from The Raab Collection
The Raab Collection's latest catalogue of autographs and manuscripts.
By Michael Stiilman
The Raab Collection has issued its 48th catalogue of signed documents. This one has its focus, historical American documents, but this is by no means exclusive. After all, King George III was certainly not an American. Nor was Napoleon. And while the many signers of the Declaration of Independence whose autographs are found here are historic persons, people like Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush are more contemporary than historic. However, there is one theme that runs through this catalogue: the people whose autographs are offered are important and very collectible figures. While a few are simple autographs, the great majority are manuscripts providing many fascinating looks into the personalities of the men and women who wrote them. Here are just a few.
The winter of 1777-1778 was a critical period for Washington's Continental Army. The Americans were encamped at Whitemarsh, the British having occupied Philadelphia. The British appeared poised for the kill. Washington had determined to move farther away to Valley Forge where they would be safer for the winter. However, the British planned to attack before the move could be accomplished. In the meantime, Washington had to strengthen his defenses. One of the things he did to defend his troops was set up a series of fascines, tightly wound bundles of wood that afforded protection. Item 13 is Washington's signed order for these fascines, which Washington wanted to be 8 feet long, two feet around, and composed of small wood. Priced at $21,900.
After Washington succeeded in changing the course of history on one continent, Napoleon would do the same on another, though the outcome was decidedly different. In 1807, Napoleon had spread French hegemony throughout much of Europe in an attempt to shut out his rivals, the British. However, Portugal had friendly relations with the British, and maintained trade despite Napoleon's displeasure. He decided to attack Portugal, but as anyone familiar with geography will instantly recognize, you don't go from France to Portugal without crossing through Spain. While Spain was Napoleon's ally, this move angered the Spanish, and led to the Peninsular War, a series of battles with the Spanish from 1807-1814 that drained resources the French leader could ill afford. Item 31 is Napoleon's letter to his Minister of War ordering that French forces enter Spain and move toward the Portuguese frontier. $27,500.
When Napoleon's empire came to a final ending at Waterloo, the man on the other side of the battle was Britain's Duke Of Wellington. It made the Duke Britain's foremost military figure of the era, and undoubtedly one of the most distinguished guests when, in 1840, Queen Victoria married Prince Albert. The wedding took place just three years into what would be a 63-year reign that would carry on all the way until the next century (Albert predeceased Victoria by 40 years). Item 34 is the Duke of Wellington's invitation to Victoria and Albert's wedding. $8,000.
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Important Autographs and Manuscripts from The Raab Collection
The Duke of Wellington's invitation to Queen Victoria's wedding.
Not too many of America's early leaders distinguished themselves by their conduct toward America's natives. Chief Justice John Marshall was an exception. Marshall's court would hand down several decisions protecting Indian rights to their native lands, decisions that President Jackson would essentially ignore. Another opponent of this unfair treatment was New Jersey Congressman Thomas Frelinghuysen. At one point, Frelinghuysen had given a six-hour speech in Congress attempting to soften the Indian Removal Act of 1830 with provisions to protect them. Frelinghuysen evidently sent a copy of his speech to Marshall, and the latter responded with his compliments. States Marshall, "The subject has always appeared to me to affect the honor, the faith and the character of our country. The cause of these oppressed people has been most ably though unsuccessfully sustained. 'Defeat in such a cause is far above the triumphs of unrighteous power.'" The quote mentioned at the end of Marshall's letter came from Frelinghuysen's speech. Item 39. $15,000
Some of the less noble actions towards America's natives are reflected in this letter from John Eaton, Secretary of War, to President Andrew Jackson. Eaton had been contacted by some major church groups wishing to learn more about the government's views toward the Indians. Eaton considered it important "to get the clergy on the side of the government in this Indian business..." He recommended that Jackson send the head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs to their meeting. Eaton then repeats Jackson's official position that removal of the Indians was strictly for their own good (as opposed to freeing up more land for White settlers). He wanted to make sure the church leaders believed that the government plan "is not to oppress but to preserve those Indians..." and "make them civilized..." That's a bit ironic as many people considered Jackson himself as somewhat less than civilized. Item 41. $4,500.
Not every matter that required Jackson's attention was quite so momentous. In item 42, Jackson writes his Acting Secretary of War in response to a request he received from Massachusetts' governor to borrow some surveying tools. Jackson authorizes the lending, but makes clear that they are to be returned in good order or the Governor will have to bear the cost of replacing them. Says Raab of this document, "It seems nothing short of incredible that the time of both the President of the United States and the Secretary of War would be consumed in maters so trivial as the lending of tools." Today they would be consumed with more important things, like fund raising. $1,500.
Speaking of more presidential matters, here's a letter from Warren Harding to Al Jolson. Harding is to the presidency what Jolson was to music. Jolson had campaigned for Harding in 1920 and helped bring attention to the candidate, sort of the way Bruce Springsteen did for John Kerry (okay, comparing Jolson to Springsteen is a bit of a stretch). In this 1921 response to Jolson, Harding states, "If I can be helpful in promoting your work in an entirely becoming and consistent way I will be more than glad to do so." The president promoting the singer? Isn't that backwards? Is this an appropriate role for a president anyway? Is this "normalcy?" The part about this boring president doing the promoting in a "becoming way" assures that it would have been totally useless in gaining the attention of a public looking for excitement. Jolson would have done better to get the promoting capabilities of Tanya Harding instead of Warren. Item 76. $1,600.
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Important Autographs and Manuscripts from The Raab Collection
President William and Mrs. Ida McKinley photograph, autographed by the President.
The use of ghostwriters by presidents is a common practice, but few were quite as forthright about it as William Howard Taft. During the campaign of 1908, the editor of "The Independent" asked Taft to write an article for his magazine. He had seen Taft articles in other publications. In his typewritten letter, Taft explains that he is too busy now, but in a handwritten note, Taft bluntly states, "Some of these articles you have seen were written for me. I am afraid I can't write anything." Item 70. $700.
Eleanor Roosevelt wrote a remarkable letter concerning the military to journalist Ada Leverty in 1957. Mrs. Roosevelt is well known for her humanitarian ideals, but probably few would think of her as a prophetic military planner. However, here we find her addressing military strategy at the dawn of the atomic age (today we would say "WMD") with ideas that would be adopted decades later. First, in this era of the draft, she says "the draft is obsolete." Her point is that young men (it was men in her day) are trained for a military role, but just as they become fully skilled, their time is up and they move on. To her it makes more sense that this level of training be provided to those who plan on sticking around awhile. Says Mrs. Roosevelt, "Atomic warfare is quite different and requires a small and highly-trained mobile army." Did Donald Rumsfeld steal her lines? However, to assure that sufficient forces would be available where necessary, she proposes that every young person undergo 3-6 months military training plus summer two-week sessions for ten years, much like the National Guard. "This would mean tremendous military potential," she explains, while not seriously interfering with their lives. Item 86. $900.
Richard Nixon did not endorse a candidate for his party's nomination in 1980 (his endorsement probably would have hurt more than helped), but here is an interesting letter to former Texas Governor John Connally, who was running for the Republican presidential nomination at the time. In it, he passes along a message he received from Iowa Senator Jack Nystrom, who says he is leaning to Connally, but had not yet heard from his committee. Evidently the former President chose to try to help Connolly's campaign at this moment by pointing out the overlooked opportunity to gain additional support. Unfortunately for Connolly, his campaign was not well run, and Ronald Reagan was able to secure the nomination. Item 93. $1,000.
The Raab Collection may be found on the web at www.RaabCollection.com and reached by telephone at 800-977-8333.
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