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<b>Bonhams:</b> MANDELSHTAM, OSIP. 1891-1938. Autograph Manuscript, 2 pp, [Petersburg,] January 1913, entitled

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Important Signed Documents and Autographs from The Raab Collection George Washington plays debt collector to Robert Morris on cover of Raab catalogue 52. By Michael Stillman Just released is Catalogue 52 from The Raab Collection. Raab offers autographs, manuscripts, and other signed items. Most signers are either household names or people who played important roles in history. Many documents touch on major historical events. While most of the personalities represented are American, that is not a limitation. Raab offers signed items from a couple of British queens (Victoria and the current Elizabeth), and a man who is French and yet also American (Lafayette). Here are a couple of the fascinating signed documents Raab is offering this month. Some letters are difficult to write, and this one must have pained George Washington immensely. It was written to Robert Morris, a patriot who had helped Washington during the Revolution, and grew to be America's largest landowner. As something of a financial wizard, he raised funds during the war, including those necessary to help Washington move his troops south to Yorktown for the decisive victory. At times he even took out personal loans to finance the cause. After the war, Morris, a believer in western expansion, purchased vast sums of land on the frontier. At one time he controlled 8 million acres, borrowing everywhere he could to speculate in the new land. He also purchased 7,000 lots on credit in the newly developing Federal City, a favorite project of Washington that would, in a few years, bear his name. Unfortunately, Morris was stretched thin, and when it came time to pay for the lots, he lacked the funds. The District Commissioners prevailed upon the President to write his friend Morris, urging payment. Washington did, and Morris provided assurances he would pay up shortly, but failed to do so. That led to this signed second letter from Washington to Morris, item 3 in the Raab catalogue. In it, a more terse Washington says, "I can add nothing...that was not contained in a former letter from me to you on the same subject. But I would thank you for letting me know what answer I shall return to the Commissioners of the Federal city. Their credit, I know, has been stretched to the utmost limits..." The letter is dated December 3, 1795. It is priced at $68,000. Morris would respond four days later explaining he did not have the money, but was attempting to raise it. Raab notes that this event chilled the longtime friendship between Washington and Morris, and there apparently was very little communication between the two old comrades in the remaining years of Washington's life. Item 5 is the letter that notified Thomas Johnson that he had been appointed just the sixth justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Johnson had nominated George Washington to be commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in 1775, and organized and personally led a militia to support Washington when he was in difficult straits early in the war. Therefore, it was not surprising that Washington would nominate this former Maryland governor, judge, and member of the Maryland convention that ratified the Constitution to the federal bench. Washington's nomination of Johnson was quickly ratified by the Senate, and on November 10, 1791, he received this letter notifying him of his appointment. The letter is signed by then Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. $38,000. As it turned out, Johnson didn't much like the job which, at the time, required much circuit riding, and resigned just 14 months later. However, he did write the first recorded U.S. Supreme Court decision, in Georgia vs. Brailsford.
Important Signed Documents and Autographs from The Raab Collection Thomas Johnson receives notice of appointment as sixth Supreme Court Justice from Thomas Jefferson. Millard Fillmore is not one of America's most notable presidents, but this document touches on one of the nation's most notable miscalculations. After the Mexican War brought America large areas of new territory, it also created a major dilemma. Most in the North did not want to see slavery extended to the new territories, but the South, fearful that its influence in the government would diminish if new non-slave states were accepted, fought for the extension of slavery. However, this was effectively banned by the Missouri Compromise of 1820. The South wanted a new compromise that would allow for new slave states to be formed. At the time, President Zachary Taylor, a Louisianan and slaveholder himself, adamantly opposed the extension of slavery to new lands, and let the South know he would personally lead troops against it if the South attempted to secede. However, Taylor died in office in 1849, and was replaced by Vice-President Millard Fillmore, a northerner more accommodating to southern wishes than was southerner Taylor. The result was a series of compromises known as the Compromise of 1850, which Taylor vowed not to sign, but Fillmore supported. Among the accommodations made to the South was allowing for residents of the new territories to choose for themselves between slavery and freedom, and the passing of the Fugitive Slave Act, which enabled slave owners to pursue runaways into the free states. On May 9, 1851, Fillmore wrote to the city fathers of Lowell, Massachusetts, noting he could not accept an invitation to visit their city at the moment. He notes that duties require his presence in Washington at the time. He then goes on to say, in reference to the recent compromise, "I trust that the storm which threatened to overwhelm the government and array section against section and brother against brother in treasonable & fratricidal strife, has passed away." How wrong he was. The Compromise of 1850 may have provided temporary relief, but ultimately only exacerbated the problem, making the great conflict of a decade later almost inevitable. However, Fillmore did recognize that, despite the compromise, all was not secure. He then notes, "But the waters are still agitated and it will yet take some time for the elements to subside." We know now they never did. Fillmore's letter is item 12. $15,000. For those looking for an autograph collection, here is an outstanding one. It belonged to Charles P. Davis, the publisher of those ubiquitous primary school publications generations were required to read, Current Events and My Weekly Reader. Among the signatures he collected were Presidents U.S. Grant, Grover Cleveland, Chester Arthur, and James Garfield, along with his assassin Charles Guiteau, poet Henry Longfellow, Generals Winfield Scott Hancock and Benjamin Butler, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Vice-President Alexander Stephens, Admiral Peary, authors Charles Dickens, Julia Ward Howe, and Oliver Wendell Holmes, educator Booker T. Washington, Britain's Queen Victoria, industrialist John D. Rockefeller, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, abolitionist Senator Charles Sumner, showman P.T. Barnum, Mormon leader Brigham Young, cartoonist Thomas Nast, lead speaker at Gettysburg Edward Everett (Lincoln's was a secondary speech), and many others. Item 27. $6,000.
Important Signed Documents and Autographs from The Raab Collection Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt, Christmas 1941. It has been forgotten by most people, but Herbert Hoover was a great humanitarian during and after the First World War. Before America's entrance into that war, Hoover led a program to bring relief to the civilians of Belgium, recently overrun by Germany. Once America entered the war, Hoover was appointed by President Wilson to run a massive program to conserve and distribute food in the U.S. and abroad. It was this outstanding effort by Hoover that made him a revered figure, and ultimately led to his nomination and election as president. Sadly, Hoover is remembered for the disaster of his presidency, the Great Depression, whose seeds were sown long before he entered office, and his anemic response to this tragedy, which left many believing this humanitarian was uncaring. Item 35 is a 1918 letter from Hoover to the Odd Fellows, a fraternal organization, asking their help in his wartime effort to distribute food to those in need. $1,200. Item 31 is a most interesting letter from President Theodore Roosevelt to mystery writer Melville Post. Post had written a story where one of the elements concerned whether Confederate currency was counterfeit, since at the time it was printed, it was intended to be real money. Roosevelt wrote that he had faced a similar situation as president. Two men had been convicted of passing counterfeit money for using Confederate currency. One appealed, the other did not. The man who appealed was successful in his argument before the Supreme Court and was released; the other was left to languish in prison. Attorney General Philander Knox petitioned Roosevelt to release the second man, since the Supreme Court had ruled the act he committed was not a crime. According to Roosevelt, they argued over the point. As Roosevelt says, "he [Knox] standing for the law and I for rude and primitive justice." The President goes on to say, "My position was that he was undoubtedly a scoundrel and a swindler and morally a criminal, I certainly would not let him out of prison; and that as for saying that I could not keep him in, why, he was in, and that was all there was about it. I think Knox had the best of the argument as regards the law, but I had the final say-so as to the facts and the man stayed for nearly a year longer. I was sorry I could not punish both scoundrels but at least I was able to punish one." Raab notes that this is not only interesting for the view it gives of Roosevelt and his sense that justice should prevail over legal technicalities, but also for his willingness to tolerate cabinet officers who differed with and even argued against his positions. T.R. was secure in his beliefs. $3,700. We close with two more Roosevelts. Item 38 is a photograph, dated Christmas 1941, of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt, signed by both. They were a couple of more Roosevelts equally secure in their beliefs. $5,000. The Raab Collection may be found online at www.raabcollection.com, phone number 800-977-8333.

Important Signed Documents and Autographs from The Raab Collection

George Washington plays debt collector to Robert Morris on cover of Raab catalogue 52.

By Michael Stillman

Just released is Catalogue 52 from The Raab Collection. Raab offers autographs, manuscripts, and other signed items. Most signers are either household names or people who played important roles in history. Many documents touch on major historical events. While most of the personalities represented are American, that is not a limitation. Raab offers signed items from a couple of British queens (Victoria and the current Elizabeth), and a man who is French and yet also American (Lafayette). Here are a couple of the fascinating signed documents Raab is offering this month.

Some letters are difficult to write, and this one must have pained George Washington immensely. It was written to Robert Morris, a patriot who had helped Washington during the Revolution, and grew to be America's largest landowner. As something of a financial wizard, he raised funds during the war, including those necessary to help Washington move his troops south to Yorktown for the decisive victory. At times he even took out personal loans to finance the cause. After the war, Morris, a believer in western expansion, purchased vast sums of land on the frontier. At one time he controlled 8 million acres, borrowing everywhere he could to speculate in the new land. He also purchased 7,000 lots on credit in the newly developing Federal City, a favorite project of Washington that would, in a few years, bear his name. Unfortunately, Morris was stretched thin, and when it came time to pay for the lots, he lacked the funds. The District Commissioners prevailed upon the President to write his friend Morris, urging payment. Washington did, and Morris provided assurances he would pay up shortly, but failed to do so. That led to this signed second letter from Washington to Morris, item 3 in the Raab catalogue. In it, a more terse Washington says, "I can add nothing...that was not contained in a former letter from me to you on the same subject. But I would thank you for letting me know what answer I shall return to the Commissioners of the Federal city. Their credit, I know, has been stretched to the utmost limits..." The letter is dated December 3, 1795. It is priced at $68,000. Morris would respond four days later explaining he did not have the money, but was attempting to raise it. Raab notes that this event chilled the longtime friendship between Washington and Morris, and there apparently was very little communication between the two old comrades in the remaining years of Washington's life.

Item 5 is the letter that notified Thomas Johnson that he had been appointed just the sixth justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Johnson had nominated George Washington to be commander-in-chief of the Continental Army in 1775, and organized and personally led a militia to support Washington when he was in difficult straits early in the war. Therefore, it was not surprising that Washington would nominate this former Maryland governor, judge, and member of the Maryland convention that ratified the Constitution to the federal bench. Washington's nomination of Johnson was quickly ratified by the Senate, and on November 10, 1791, he received this letter notifying him of his appointment. The letter is signed by then Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson. $38,000. As it turned out, Johnson didn't much like the job which, at the time, required much circuit riding, and resigned just 14 months later. However, he did write the first recorded U.S. Supreme Court decision, in Georgia vs. Brailsford.

Important Signed Documents and Autographs from The Raab Collection

Thomas Johnson receives notice of appointment as sixth Supreme Court Justice from Thomas Jefferson.

Millard Fillmore is not one of America's most notable presidents, but this document touches on one of the nation's most notable miscalculations. After the Mexican War brought America large areas of new territory, it also created a major dilemma. Most in the North did not want to see slavery extended to the new territories, but the South, fearful that its influence in the government would diminish if new non-slave states were accepted, fought for the extension of slavery. However, this was effectively banned by the Missouri Compromise of 1820. The South wanted a new compromise that would allow for new slave states to be formed. At the time, President Zachary Taylor, a Louisianan and slaveholder himself, adamantly opposed the extension of slavery to new lands, and let the South know he would personally lead troops against it if the South attempted to secede. However, Taylor died in office in 1849, and was replaced by Vice-President Millard Fillmore, a northerner more accommodating to southern wishes than was southerner Taylor. The result was a series of compromises known as the Compromise of 1850, which Taylor vowed not to sign, but Fillmore supported. Among the accommodations made to the South was allowing for residents of the new territories to choose for themselves between slavery and freedom, and the passing of the Fugitive Slave Act, which enabled slave owners to pursue runaways into the free states. On May 9, 1851, Fillmore wrote to the city fathers of Lowell, Massachusetts, noting he could not accept an invitation to visit their city at the moment. He notes that duties require his presence in Washington at the time. He then goes on to say, in reference to the recent compromise, "I trust that the storm which threatened to overwhelm the government and array section against section and brother against brother in treasonable & fratricidal strife, has passed away." How wrong he was. The Compromise of 1850 may have provided temporary relief, but ultimately only exacerbated the problem, making the great conflict of a decade later almost inevitable. However, Fillmore did recognize that, despite the compromise, all was not secure. He then notes, "But the waters are still agitated and it will yet take some time for the elements to subside." We know now they never did. Fillmore's letter is item 12. $15,000.

For those looking for an autograph collection, here is an outstanding one. It belonged to Charles P. Davis, the publisher of those ubiquitous primary school publications generations were required to read, Current Events and My Weekly Reader. Among the signatures he collected were Presidents U.S. Grant, Grover Cleveland, Chester Arthur, and James Garfield, along with his assassin Charles Guiteau, poet Henry Longfellow, Generals Winfield Scott Hancock and Benjamin Butler, Confederate President Jefferson Davis and Vice-President Alexander Stephens, Admiral Peary, authors Charles Dickens, Julia Ward Howe, and Oliver Wendell Holmes, educator Booker T. Washington, Britain's Queen Victoria, industrialist John D. Rockefeller, Secretary of War Edwin Stanton, abolitionist Senator Charles Sumner, showman P.T. Barnum, Mormon leader Brigham Young, cartoonist Thomas Nast, lead speaker at Gettysburg Edward Everett (Lincoln's was a secondary speech), and many others. Item 27. $6,000.

Important Signed Documents and Autographs from The Raab Collection

Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt, Christmas 1941.

It has been forgotten by most people, but Herbert Hoover was a great humanitarian during and after the First World War. Before America's entrance into that war, Hoover led a program to bring relief to the civilians of Belgium, recently overrun by Germany. Once America entered the war, Hoover was appointed by President Wilson to run a massive program to conserve and distribute food in the U.S. and abroad. It was this outstanding effort by Hoover that made him a revered figure, and ultimately led to his nomination and election as president. Sadly, Hoover is remembered for the disaster of his presidency, the Great Depression, whose seeds were sown long before he entered office, and his anemic response to this tragedy, which left many believing this humanitarian was uncaring. Item 35 is a 1918 letter from Hoover to the Odd Fellows, a fraternal organization, asking their help in his wartime effort to distribute food to those in need. $1,200.

Item 31 is a most interesting letter from President Theodore Roosevelt to mystery writer Melville Post. Post had written a story where one of the elements concerned whether Confederate currency was counterfeit, since at the time it was printed, it was intended to be real money. Roosevelt wrote that he had faced a similar situation as president. Two men had been convicted of passing counterfeit money for using Confederate currency. One appealed, the other did not. The man who appealed was successful in his argument before the Supreme Court and was released; the other was left to languish in prison. Attorney General Philander Knox petitioned Roosevelt to release the second man, since the Supreme Court had ruled the act he committed was not a crime. According to Roosevelt, they argued over the point. As Roosevelt says, "he [Knox] standing for the law and I for rude and primitive justice." The President goes on to say, "My position was that he was undoubtedly a scoundrel and a swindler and morally a criminal, I certainly would not let him out of prison; and that as for saying that I could not keep him in, why, he was in, and that was all there was about it. I think Knox had the best of the argument as regards the law, but I had the final say-so as to the facts and the man stayed for nearly a year longer. I was sorry I could not punish both scoundrels but at least I was able to punish one." Raab notes that this is not only interesting for the view it gives of Roosevelt and his sense that justice should prevail over legal technicalities, but also for his willingness to tolerate cabinet officers who differed with and even argued against his positions. T.R. was secure in his beliefs. $3,700.

We close with two more Roosevelts. Item 38 is a photograph, dated Christmas 1941, of Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt, signed by both. They were a couple of more Roosevelts equally secure in their beliefs. $5,000.

The Raab Collection may be found online at www.raabcollection.com, phone number 800-977-8333.