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The Hunt for History: On the Trail of the World's Lost Treasures—from the Letters of Lincoln, Churchill, and Einstein to the Secret Recordings Onboard JFK's Air Force One
Nathan Raab, America’s preeminent rare documents dealer, describes his years as the Sherlock Holmes of historical artifacts—questing after precious finds and determining their authenticity—and he shows us what the past can tell us about the present.
A box uncovered in a Maine attic with twenty letters written by Alexander Hamilton; a handheld address to Congress by President George Washington; a long-lost Gold Medal that belonged to an American President; a note that Winston Churchill wrote to his captor when he was a young POW in South Africa; paperwork signed and filled out by Amelia Earhart when she became the first woman to fly the Atlantic; an American flag carried to the moon and back by Neil Armstrong; an unpublished letter written by Albert Einstein, discussing his theory of relativity.
Each day, people from all over the world contact Nathan Raab for help understanding what they have, what it might be worth, and how to sell it. The Raab Collection’s president, Nathan is a modern-day treasure hunter and one of the world’s most prominent dealers of historical artifacts. Most weeks, he travels the country, scours auctions, or fields phone calls and emails from people who think they may have found something of note in a grandparent’s attic.
In The Hunt for History, Raab shares some fascinating stories about his professional exploits: spotting a letter from British officials that secured the Rosetta Stone; discovering a piece of the first electric cable laid by Edison; restoring a fragmented letter from Andrew Jackson that led to the infamous Trail of Tears; and locating copies of missing audio that had been recorded on Air Force One as the plane brought JFK’s body back to Washington. Whether it’s the first report of Napoleon’s death or an unpublished letter penned by Albert Einstein to a curious soldier, every document and artifact Raab uncovers comes with a spellbinding story—and often offers new insights into a life we thought we knew.
A box uncovered in a Maine attic with twenty letters written by Alexander Hamilton; a handheld address to Congress by President George Washington; a long-lost Gold Medal that belonged to an American President; a note that Winston Churchill wrote to his captor when he was a young POW in South Africa; paperwork signed and filled out by Amelia Earhart when she became the first woman to fly the Atlantic; an American flag carried to the moon and back by Neil Armstrong; an unpublished letter written by Albert Einstein, discussing his theory of relativity.
Each day, people from all over the world contact Nathan Raab for help understanding what they have, what it might be worth, and how to sell it. The Raab Collection’s president, Nathan is a modern-day treasure hunter and one of the world’s most prominent dealers of historical artifacts. Most weeks, he travels the country, scours auctions, or fields phone calls and emails from people who think they may have found something of note in a grandparent’s attic.
In The Hunt for History, Raab shares some fascinating stories about his professional exploits: spotting a letter from British officials that secured the Rosetta Stone; discovering a piece of the first electric cable laid by Edison; restoring a fragmented letter from Andrew Jackson that led to the infamous Trail of Tears; and locating copies of missing audio that had been recorded on Air Force One as the plane brought JFK’s body back to Washington. Whether it’s the first report of Napoleon’s death or an unpublished letter penned by Albert Einstein to a curious soldier, every document and artifact Raab uncovers comes with a spellbinding story—and often offers new insights into a life we thought we knew.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2020
95 people are currently reading
2905 people want to read
About the author
Nathan Raab
2 books21 followersNathan Raab is a principal at the Raab Collection, a historian, and a nationally recognized expert who is helping to build many of the great public and private historical manuscript collections in the country. He is one of the world’s most knowledgeable and respected experts in historical documents. His writing has appeared in The New York Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer, and he frequently writes a column, “Historically Speaking,” for Forbes.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
October 24, 2019
A good gift book for the budding teenaged history nerd in your life.
This may seem like I'm damning the book with faint praise, or saying that it's too simple for adults, but that's not my intention. I mean it to say that it is a clear and easy read about the business of collecting, buying, and selling historical signatures, documents, and such like. It may open up a facet of history of which the teenager was unaware. Or maybe I mean to say that it would have appealed to me when I was a teenaged history nerd.
In any case, it might also demonstrate to a young person that, if you are interested in history, there are career paths open to you aside from high school teacher or barista. It might also show that, even if you end up in a more conventional career path, there are still ways to incorporate the passion for history into your life, as Raab's clients did when they bought and sold documents and other memorabilia.
I'd like to talk about something that I liked about the book first, and then do a little ill-natured grousing about it.
This is a great book to read at bedtime. Again, I'm afraid you will think I am ridiculing the book. Not at all. Finding the proper book for bedtime is a delicate task. Reading a good book at bedtime remains one of life's cheap and simple pleasures. For me, I want a book about history that stimulates the grey matter without coming down too hard on the undeniable fact that life, and history, is often cruel and unfair. This book hits that sweet spot. At the same time I was reading this book, I was also reading an important and serious book about a depressing historical episode of racist cruelty in which the villains were completely triumphant and, depressingly, still to this day have not received the vilification they deserve. That book was worthy and necessary, but when I wanted to turn in at the end of a wearying day, this was the book I chose. It had just the right mix of conflict and cheerfulness.
Grousing: In addition to being an interesting read (shoutout to second-credit author Luke Barr, who probably helped in this regard), I accuse this book of being a marketing device for the author's ongoing commercial enterprise of buying and selling historically-significant letters and popular signatures. As such, it can apparently never show Nathan Raab making a mistake. He makes sound judgment in all cases presented and is generally the smartest guy in the room at all times. That's a good way to present yourself if you want people to use your business, but it makes for a slightly duller book. It reminded me of the old TV series Perry Mason, where Perry ALWAYS wins the case (except that time he went to East Germany). Who didn't long for Perry to lose every once in a while? The book could have been a little more interesting if we had had an episode where Raab was fooled by a swindler or let a great and profitable piece of business slip by. People's failures are often both more instructive and more interesting than their successes.
Similarly, the authors' apparent decision to go easy and not dish the dirt on others (with whom they may have to work in the future) means that the book is somewhat less entertaining than it might be. For example, in Chapter 17, Raab acquires a document in which President Andrew Jackson announces to Native Americans that they soon will be embarking on the journey now known as the “Trail of Tears”. Almost everybody thought it was a great find. “The only person who wasn't pleased was the editor of the Papers of Andrew Jackson, who felt the letter put Jackson in an unnecessarily bad light” (Kindle location 2979). Oh? What's this guy's name anyway? What did he say? What did he do? Did he defend Jackson's decision to kick Native Americans off the land? Given the suffering that resulted, why did he think that the “bad light” that Jackson appeared in was unnecessary?
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the free advance egalley copy of this book.
This may seem like I'm damning the book with faint praise, or saying that it's too simple for adults, but that's not my intention. I mean it to say that it is a clear and easy read about the business of collecting, buying, and selling historical signatures, documents, and such like. It may open up a facet of history of which the teenager was unaware. Or maybe I mean to say that it would have appealed to me when I was a teenaged history nerd.
In any case, it might also demonstrate to a young person that, if you are interested in history, there are career paths open to you aside from high school teacher or barista. It might also show that, even if you end up in a more conventional career path, there are still ways to incorporate the passion for history into your life, as Raab's clients did when they bought and sold documents and other memorabilia.
I'd like to talk about something that I liked about the book first, and then do a little ill-natured grousing about it.
This is a great book to read at bedtime. Again, I'm afraid you will think I am ridiculing the book. Not at all. Finding the proper book for bedtime is a delicate task. Reading a good book at bedtime remains one of life's cheap and simple pleasures. For me, I want a book about history that stimulates the grey matter without coming down too hard on the undeniable fact that life, and history, is often cruel and unfair. This book hits that sweet spot. At the same time I was reading this book, I was also reading an important and serious book about a depressing historical episode of racist cruelty in which the villains were completely triumphant and, depressingly, still to this day have not received the vilification they deserve. That book was worthy and necessary, but when I wanted to turn in at the end of a wearying day, this was the book I chose. It had just the right mix of conflict and cheerfulness.
Grousing: In addition to being an interesting read (shoutout to second-credit author Luke Barr, who probably helped in this regard), I accuse this book of being a marketing device for the author's ongoing commercial enterprise of buying and selling historically-significant letters and popular signatures. As such, it can apparently never show Nathan Raab making a mistake. He makes sound judgment in all cases presented and is generally the smartest guy in the room at all times. That's a good way to present yourself if you want people to use your business, but it makes for a slightly duller book. It reminded me of the old TV series Perry Mason, where Perry ALWAYS wins the case (except that time he went to East Germany). Who didn't long for Perry to lose every once in a while? The book could have been a little more interesting if we had had an episode where Raab was fooled by a swindler or let a great and profitable piece of business slip by. People's failures are often both more instructive and more interesting than their successes.
Similarly, the authors' apparent decision to go easy and not dish the dirt on others (with whom they may have to work in the future) means that the book is somewhat less entertaining than it might be. For example, in Chapter 17, Raab acquires a document in which President Andrew Jackson announces to Native Americans that they soon will be embarking on the journey now known as the “Trail of Tears”. Almost everybody thought it was a great find. “The only person who wasn't pleased was the editor of the Papers of Andrew Jackson, who felt the letter put Jackson in an unnecessarily bad light” (Kindle location 2979). Oh? What's this guy's name anyway? What did he say? What did he do? Did he defend Jackson's decision to kick Native Americans off the land? Given the suffering that resulted, why did he think that the “bad light” that Jackson appeared in was unnecessary?
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the free advance egalley copy of this book.
June 24, 2020
2020 bk 213. Every so often a book comes along that touches on prior memory or rather memories that had faded a bit. Raab's Hunt for History tells the story of his family company that searches out autographs and documents and resells them. His is a book of the documented American History - the lost and found and the faked. Many of his stories brought to mind newspaper articles I had read through the years - articles that involved his company. His is not a cut and dried story, but one that describes the emotions that can be felt on reading the Jackson order to the southern Indiana groups to move west voluntarily or be forcibly removed, the story of a Jewish family and the Holocaust, the banter between great scientists, and the letters written by the famous to children. I sat up with delight when he referred to consulting the great Dr. Judith Miller of the Library of Congress Documents section. I had the joy of being with her in a room with some of the early George Washington documents (and later with another LOC great in the map room) in 2012 - and am greatful to have had the chance to know how truly great are the people entrusted with America's documents in our institutions, and the knowledge that even though Raab is in a business, he still cares about getting the documents to where they need to be. A terrific read.
February 18, 2023
This book, written by a document dealer, contains a number of stories about acquisitions made by the author and his parents over many decades. Frankly, I was mostly interested in the matter of authentication, dealing myself with signed and antique books. There's some of that, but mostly it's a bunch of anecdotes.
October 8, 2019
I enjoy books on history and historical objects. I found this book to be an interesting read with all kinds of stories on various items found.
April 4, 2020
This is a fascinating look at the business of authenticating and acquiring historically significant documents, letters, autographs, and artifacts.
August 9, 2020
Fascinating.
March 12, 2020
A willful historical misinterpretation to lead off one chapter, plus seeing how highly it's being rated by others, led to the 3-star rating.
Even before seeing it ridiculously at 4.89 stars, I was going to 4-star for sure, and say this is a case where I wished for 3.5 stars. But now?
And what's wrong with the book?
First, it's a nice story about document hunting and authentication. Nice as in "nice" if it were a longer book, but it's not "padded." I spotted a few historical "quibbles," but was thinking this was a solid 4-star.
Until page 165.
That's the start of the JFK Tapes chapter.
Raab claims Maj. Gen. Chester Clifton Jr. was JFK's chief of staff, or de facto one, since the modern position didn't exist.
Not.Even.Close.
Teh Google notes that presidential appointments secretaries were de facto chiefs of staff before a formal position created.
That would be Kenny O'Donnell. Assisted informally by Dave Powers. With Bobby in the background on the strategic side, of course. Clifton was Jack's intelligence briefer. And not a lot more or else.
It's not just that this one is an error.
A fair chunk of Raab's book is about people overvaluing their collections, or forgers or thieves, and forgers or thieves trying to "juice" the value of their collections.
In my opinion, he did exactly that.
Three stars, buddy.
Even before seeing it ridiculously at 4.89 stars, I was going to 4-star for sure, and say this is a case where I wished for 3.5 stars. But now?
And what's wrong with the book?
First, it's a nice story about document hunting and authentication. Nice as in "nice" if it were a longer book, but it's not "padded." I spotted a few historical "quibbles," but was thinking this was a solid 4-star.
Until page 165.
That's the start of the JFK Tapes chapter.
Raab claims Maj. Gen. Chester Clifton Jr. was JFK's chief of staff, or de facto one, since the modern position didn't exist.
Not.Even.Close.
Teh Google notes that presidential appointments secretaries were de facto chiefs of staff before a formal position created.
That would be Kenny O'Donnell. Assisted informally by Dave Powers. With Bobby in the background on the strategic side, of course. Clifton was Jack's intelligence briefer. And not a lot more or else.
It's not just that this one is an error.
A fair chunk of Raab's book is about people overvaluing their collections, or forgers or thieves, and forgers or thieves trying to "juice" the value of their collections.
In my opinion, he did exactly that.
Three stars, buddy.
January 15, 2024
My only regret about this wonderful book is that I didn’t pick it up sooner. The hunt for undiscovered, neglected, or in some cases undervalued historical documents and artifacts is thrilling subject matter. Added to that is the author’s ability to weave his personal and family story and enthusiasm for the emotional significance and power of these historical discoveries into a series of gripping, page turning, and thoughtful vignettes. The process of applying a knowledge of history and the identification of genuine from fake documents is told in a lucid, jargon free style. This is a must read for history enthusiasts and anyone with a collecting passion or who would simply enjoy an exciting tale of cultural treasure hunting.
March 6, 2020
Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com
As a fan of history I couldn’t wait to read this book. And I am so glad I got to. I have never heard of Nathan Raab but I will be looking into him more now. I found the information he has really fascinating. So much rare and informative documents and artifacts.
I loved the writing style of Raab. I found myself sharing some of the information with others without even realizing I had retained the facts.
I actually think I will buy the hard copy so we have it for generations to come.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
As a fan of history I couldn’t wait to read this book. And I am so glad I got to. I have never heard of Nathan Raab but I will be looking into him more now. I found the information he has really fascinating. So much rare and informative documents and artifacts.
I loved the writing style of Raab. I found myself sharing some of the information with others without even realizing I had retained the facts.
I actually think I will buy the hard copy so we have it for generations to come.
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2021
reads part braggart PR release for their firm, part cheesy series of "lessons" that amount to don't trust every document someone wants to sell you. this book was many many anecdotes that are dull and entirely forgettable
October 21, 2020
Fascinating book about the search for historical documents and artifacts, the authentication process, and the impact these items have on our understanding of our nation’s history.
November 29, 2019
WHO ARE THE AUTHORS?
Nathan Raab is the Principal of The Raab Collection and an established author. Mr. Raab is a familiar presence in the international media scene and has appeared in several broadcasts, in magazines and periodicals, and online.
Nathan has worked with the Library of Congress, the British Library, and many others. He has advised the descendants of many notable historical figures on the treasures that they have inherited. The Raab Collection has handled manuscripts and artifacts from a rich and diverse range of luminaries. Some of these esteemed historical figures are; Thomas Jefferson, Ronald Reagan, Dwight D. Eisenhower, F. Scott Fitzgerald, James K. Polk, William Henry Harrison, Andrew Jackson, Gerald Ford, Signers of the Declaration of Independence, senior leadership in the Civil War, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Luke Barr is a New York Times bestselling author and was a features editor. He is known for his titles Ritz & Escoffier and his bestseller Provence, 1970. He worked as an editor at Travel + Leisure magazine. Luke now lives with his wife and their two daughters in Brooklyn.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
The Hunt for History is a cross between a real-life detective story and an Easter Egg Hunt. It is a risky business and the find can sometimes be valued in excess of six figures. If you enjoy the thrill of the chase, the drama of the reveal, or relish the trip through the adventure of the hunt you will love this text. Any history buff, collector of ephemera, antiquarian, museum curator, or student of history will be guaranteed to enjoy and appreciate the skill, hard work, and commitment employed by this family of literary sleuths. Those who are aficionados of fictional characters such as: Sherlock Holmes, Indiana Jones, or Hercule Poirot then this true-life detective story will most certainly fascinate, entertain, and enthrall.
The Raab’s have much to teach their contemporaries about maintaining humanity and ethics in business practice. Nathan Raab goes to great pains to clarify that it is not just the monetary rewards that are important but the legacy that they help hand down to history through their discoveries. The Raab Collection’s ethics seem to be a distinct characteristic that separates the Raab’s from their competition, and it is why the monied class approach them repeatedly to sell, value or auction their family jewels.
SYNOPSIS
The Hunt for History will inevitably be compared to the Raiders of the Lost Ark and for very good reason.
These antiquarian detectives don’t hunt down criminals or solve murders; no, they solve puzzles far more complex than any thought up by the great mystery writers of the past. Their story is every bit as exciting and intense as a Sherlock Holmes tale.
Truth being stranger than fiction; this family of ‘detectives’ are far more skilled, intelligent, analytical, and intuitive than any of their fictional counterparts. Nathan Raab asserts that his success is due in part to the ‘Blink’ moment and a skill impossible to cultivate except through practical experience and the passage of time. These qualities include a detailed and working knowledge of a foreign language (in Nathan’s case that language is French) a good grounding in law, as well as a keen manuscript hunting mentality. It’s these traits that Raab confirms are the key personal characteristics that make the family business so successful.
Raab takes the reader along on a number of historically important quests for irreplaceable artifact and manuscripts. He describes how his father trained him and how his experiences developed the necessary skills that were essential to search for invaluable artifacts from times long past. Some treasure troves he discovered are so important that they would make even the hardest archivists salivate. Together this family has saved documents that eluded generations of sleuths, in one case they linked a lost document to the Rosetta Stone story.
The Raab family’s dogged determination and intellect often lead to official, personal, and historically significant artifacts and personal property of some of the history’s greatest players being found. They have discovered historic scripts from Kings, presidents and other notables. Although the hunt brings rich rewards financially, this isn’t the sole motivation for the Raab family. This family cares in every sense of the word in the legacy that is often attached to many of the items they manage to recover for posterity.
There is a genuine sense of empathy expressed at the relinquishment of unique and historically important items by those who have owned the various ‘objet d’arts’ over many generations; in one particular case spanning some 400 years. Most of all, it is the chase that will keep you turning the pages as it did for me. I was beguiled by each and every detail of the various reveals. The reader gets a real sense of the ups and downs emotionally and otherwise of the family’s commitment to finding and acquiring important antiquated collectibles.
Raab recounts the family’s investment in time, money, and effort in seeking out elusive historic treasures. The journey is a long one. The excitement grows as one incredible find is usurped by another then another, and they get more extraordinary with each turn of the page.
CONCLUSION
Put simply, this volume is a rip-roaring tale. If you read no other book in 2020, I highly recommend this one. As a book reviewer, I have only given 3 books a 5-star rating this year, and one of them goes to this work.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My sincere thanks go to: Nathan Raab and Luke Barr, NetGalley, and the publisher, Scribner for affording me the opportunity to review The Hunt For History.
FURTHER READING
You can find manuscripts they have for sale here: https://www.raabcollection.com/buy
The Raab Collection provide a PDF advice guide for those elite families who hold valuable items. Download it here or visit their site: https://www.raabcollection.com/selling
Nathan Raab is the Principal of The Raab Collection and an established author. Mr. Raab is a familiar presence in the international media scene and has appeared in several broadcasts, in magazines and periodicals, and online.
Nathan has worked with the Library of Congress, the British Library, and many others. He has advised the descendants of many notable historical figures on the treasures that they have inherited. The Raab Collection has handled manuscripts and artifacts from a rich and diverse range of luminaries. Some of these esteemed historical figures are; Thomas Jefferson, Ronald Reagan, Dwight D. Eisenhower, F. Scott Fitzgerald, James K. Polk, William Henry Harrison, Andrew Jackson, Gerald Ford, Signers of the Declaration of Independence, senior leadership in the Civil War, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Luke Barr is a New York Times bestselling author and was a features editor. He is known for his titles Ritz & Escoffier and his bestseller Provence, 1970. He worked as an editor at Travel + Leisure magazine. Luke now lives with his wife and their two daughters in Brooklyn.
WHO IS THIS FOR?
The Hunt for History is a cross between a real-life detective story and an Easter Egg Hunt. It is a risky business and the find can sometimes be valued in excess of six figures. If you enjoy the thrill of the chase, the drama of the reveal, or relish the trip through the adventure of the hunt you will love this text. Any history buff, collector of ephemera, antiquarian, museum curator, or student of history will be guaranteed to enjoy and appreciate the skill, hard work, and commitment employed by this family of literary sleuths. Those who are aficionados of fictional characters such as: Sherlock Holmes, Indiana Jones, or Hercule Poirot then this true-life detective story will most certainly fascinate, entertain, and enthrall.
The Raab’s have much to teach their contemporaries about maintaining humanity and ethics in business practice. Nathan Raab goes to great pains to clarify that it is not just the monetary rewards that are important but the legacy that they help hand down to history through their discoveries. The Raab Collection’s ethics seem to be a distinct characteristic that separates the Raab’s from their competition, and it is why the monied class approach them repeatedly to sell, value or auction their family jewels.
SYNOPSIS
The Hunt for History will inevitably be compared to the Raiders of the Lost Ark and for very good reason.
These antiquarian detectives don’t hunt down criminals or solve murders; no, they solve puzzles far more complex than any thought up by the great mystery writers of the past. Their story is every bit as exciting and intense as a Sherlock Holmes tale.
Truth being stranger than fiction; this family of ‘detectives’ are far more skilled, intelligent, analytical, and intuitive than any of their fictional counterparts. Nathan Raab asserts that his success is due in part to the ‘Blink’ moment and a skill impossible to cultivate except through practical experience and the passage of time. These qualities include a detailed and working knowledge of a foreign language (in Nathan’s case that language is French) a good grounding in law, as well as a keen manuscript hunting mentality. It’s these traits that Raab confirms are the key personal characteristics that make the family business so successful.
Raab takes the reader along on a number of historically important quests for irreplaceable artifact and manuscripts. He describes how his father trained him and how his experiences developed the necessary skills that were essential to search for invaluable artifacts from times long past. Some treasure troves he discovered are so important that they would make even the hardest archivists salivate. Together this family has saved documents that eluded generations of sleuths, in one case they linked a lost document to the Rosetta Stone story.
The Raab family’s dogged determination and intellect often lead to official, personal, and historically significant artifacts and personal property of some of the history’s greatest players being found. They have discovered historic scripts from Kings, presidents and other notables. Although the hunt brings rich rewards financially, this isn’t the sole motivation for the Raab family. This family cares in every sense of the word in the legacy that is often attached to many of the items they manage to recover for posterity.
There is a genuine sense of empathy expressed at the relinquishment of unique and historically important items by those who have owned the various ‘objet d’arts’ over many generations; in one particular case spanning some 400 years. Most of all, it is the chase that will keep you turning the pages as it did for me. I was beguiled by each and every detail of the various reveals. The reader gets a real sense of the ups and downs emotionally and otherwise of the family’s commitment to finding and acquiring important antiquated collectibles.
Raab recounts the family’s investment in time, money, and effort in seeking out elusive historic treasures. The journey is a long one. The excitement grows as one incredible find is usurped by another then another, and they get more extraordinary with each turn of the page.
CONCLUSION
Put simply, this volume is a rip-roaring tale. If you read no other book in 2020, I highly recommend this one. As a book reviewer, I have only given 3 books a 5-star rating this year, and one of them goes to this work.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My sincere thanks go to: Nathan Raab and Luke Barr, NetGalley, and the publisher, Scribner for affording me the opportunity to review The Hunt For History.
FURTHER READING
You can find manuscripts they have for sale here: https://www.raabcollection.com/buy
The Raab Collection provide a PDF advice guide for those elite families who hold valuable items. Download it here or visit their site: https://www.raabcollection.com/selling
August 29, 2020
History has many layers as does this outstanding read. The author’s journey and decision to partner in his father’s document business offers more than a glimpse into acquiring historical collections. The background of this book is a large stage and it opens a small pathway for an individual to pull together their own archives. Everyone has a story.
August 18, 2020
4.5 **. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a historical document hunters biography about hunting history. He has found some really great finds in his time, and it was very entertaining and interesting to hear about them.
March 4, 2020
Review: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I am not usually one to pick up a history book for a quiet reading sesh, but this book is incredible! Nathan Raab makes history exciting. Finding hidden treasures at auctions or random people walking into his family store with remarkable historical artifacts keeps this book moving at a quick pace. I learned so much about American history and I cannot recommend this book enough. I loved it!
March 2, 2020
The Hunt For History by Nathan Raab. This nerd loves history, and this book was just amazing! Nathan Raab is the president of the Raab Collection, a dealer of historical artifacts. He is what I would call a treasure hunter. In this book he details some of his most exciting finds! He is essentially living the show Antiques Roadshow! Letters from Churchill, Einstein and recordings from Air Force One after Kennedy had been assassinated. And those are just a few of his finds! I loved reading this book and did not want it to end!! A book about history and told in such a way that you don't even realize you are learning!! I will definitely buy this book! 5⭐
May 21, 2020
I thought this was going to be about the objects, however, it seems to me that the author just wanted brag about all of his excellent skills.
September 26, 2020
I thought this would be interesting, but it put me to sleep every time I listened to it!
April 28, 2023
Picked up this book for my son who loves the National Treasure movies and wanted to check it out before handing it over. It is a very easy book to read full of interesting stories. It sparked an interest in me to learn a bit more about some of the people and moments in history he wrote about. It is also a great book if want to have discussions on morals, ethics, and character!
April 29, 2020
It wasn't until my first semester of college that I really started to appreciate history. I had the first amazing history professor in my life who made each class a fascinating experience. So thank you to all the teachers out there who love what they do and inspire their students to love learning. It was that class that set me on the path to view history in a way I never had before. It was more than just memorizing facts and dates; history tells a story. A compelling story.
Nathan Raab has one of the coolest jobs ever. He's a history hunter. People bring him artifacts, letters, documents, and through a meticulous process, he determines if they're authentic. He's not just a collector, he's also a seller. The Hunt for History: On the Trail of the World's Lost Treasures—from the Letters of Lincoln, Churchill, and Einstein to the Secret Recordings Onboard JFK's Air is his story.
The book begins with Raab's introduction into the world of lost treasures. He didn't begin as a treasure hunter. He talks first about what made him quit his job to pursue this line of work. He goes on to explain how to determine if an artifact is genuine or if it's fool's gold. He describes some of the more interesting cases he's come across, describes the thrill of an auction, and explains the instinct, experience, and knowledge required to thrive in this business.
Raab also tackles dilemmas such as coming across an object that puts a historical figure in a bad light. The items that Raab finds often help tell a more complete story of the men and women of the past and helps bring a greater understanding to the events of the past. Not every historical item is valuable. Not every item will sell. Raab's must determine if he will be able to find an interested party to unload the historical wares on. After all, his ultimate goal is to make a profit. He must be careful though, because their is a huge market for forgery and theft.
I was enraptured as I listened to Fred Sanders, the narrator, read Raab's memoir. I enjoyed the personal stories about his finds, his near misses, and men baring cookies and cupcakes. A lot of what Raab does seems to combine gut instinct with a impeccable knowledge of history. Listening to this book was 8 almost 9 hours well spent. I definitely would recommend this book for history lovers. And I now know what I'm getting my dad for Father's Day.
So you may want to check out that old box that you've been storing in your attic or basement. You never know what valuable thing could be hiding at the bottom. Something that may unlock secrets of the past.
Nathan Raab has one of the coolest jobs ever. He's a history hunter. People bring him artifacts, letters, documents, and through a meticulous process, he determines if they're authentic. He's not just a collector, he's also a seller. The Hunt for History: On the Trail of the World's Lost Treasures—from the Letters of Lincoln, Churchill, and Einstein to the Secret Recordings Onboard JFK's Air is his story.
The book begins with Raab's introduction into the world of lost treasures. He didn't begin as a treasure hunter. He talks first about what made him quit his job to pursue this line of work. He goes on to explain how to determine if an artifact is genuine or if it's fool's gold. He describes some of the more interesting cases he's come across, describes the thrill of an auction, and explains the instinct, experience, and knowledge required to thrive in this business.
Raab also tackles dilemmas such as coming across an object that puts a historical figure in a bad light. The items that Raab finds often help tell a more complete story of the men and women of the past and helps bring a greater understanding to the events of the past. Not every historical item is valuable. Not every item will sell. Raab's must determine if he will be able to find an interested party to unload the historical wares on. After all, his ultimate goal is to make a profit. He must be careful though, because their is a huge market for forgery and theft.
I was enraptured as I listened to Fred Sanders, the narrator, read Raab's memoir. I enjoyed the personal stories about his finds, his near misses, and men baring cookies and cupcakes. A lot of what Raab does seems to combine gut instinct with a impeccable knowledge of history. Listening to this book was 8 almost 9 hours well spent. I definitely would recommend this book for history lovers. And I now know what I'm getting my dad for Father's Day.
So you may want to check out that old box that you've been storing in your attic or basement. You never know what valuable thing could be hiding at the bottom. Something that may unlock secrets of the past.
May 29, 2023
Part history lesson, part look at the antiquities trade, specifically historical documents. This book is the tale of various documents/items that have only recently come to light after years and years of attic storage or other unknown parts. A further breadth in understanding of famous events and people. What makes the items valuable is the link they all have to historical characters and their trademark attitudes, speech, or other such “well known for…” habits. There is even a run in with the government as described in the book. Quite an interesting read.
March 6, 2022
Fascinating, especially if you love history and historical artificats!
September 28, 2020
Nathan Raab followed in his father's footsteps as a dealer in rare documents - mostly letters. and he provides examples of some notable discoveries and sales he made over the years. Be it the entrance paperwork Amelia Earhart filled out to participate in the Bendix air contest along with other notable aviators of those early years. A note written by Winston Churchill to a friendly escort while being held prisoner during the Boer War. Correspondence between notable German physicists even as the Nazi party was gaining control of the country. One of the actual order of books for the infant Library of Congress written up by Merriweather Lewis and signed by President Thomas Jefferson. And many other examples.
Raab has a chatty way of writing while telling of what makes an interesting piece - not just who wrote it but what is is about. How it may impact history. Researching and listening to that 'gut reaction' that can only develop after years of exposure. And knowing what will sell since that is what will keep his family business viable in the long run.
It's interesting and a quick entertaining read. Will certainly make you look at the contents of that box of yellowed papers in a totally different way. Who knows what could actually be in it...
2020-193
Raab has a chatty way of writing while telling of what makes an interesting piece - not just who wrote it but what is is about. How it may impact history. Researching and listening to that 'gut reaction' that can only develop after years of exposure. And knowing what will sell since that is what will keep his family business viable in the long run.
It's interesting and a quick entertaining read. Will certainly make you look at the contents of that box of yellowed papers in a totally different way. Who knows what could actually be in it...
2020-193
March 29, 2023
Interesting read, it's clear the authors know their history and included some neat and/or little known historical anecdotes which were enjoyable to read. The author talked about the importance of making public letters from Andrew Jackson which paint him in an unflattering light, and rightly so, the truth should always be made known. Unfortunately, the author details a decision to keep private letters (until the book was published at least) which paint MLK is a less than flattering light. The truth shouldn't be selective, historical figures are human and a 360 degree view helps inform our understanding of them, a shame. The business model itself left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth, buying letters from individuals or dealers and reselling them at a well magnified price. A business needs to make a profit surely, but in some instances described, it was clear the seller didn't realize what they had and were paid too paltry a sum for it. A bit unscrupulous perhaps, left a poor taste in my mouth. A nominal read, part enjoyable, part unsatisfactory.
March 9, 2020
I didn't want this book to end, it was that good. I enjoy reading history and this book now has a spot on my favorites list as well as on the gift list for various people in my life. Nathan Raab has a way with words and knows how to grab the reader and take them for a wondrous journey through time. As I read, I found myself wanting to read parts out loud, to share my new knowledge. Imagine holding in your hands a flag that went to the moon or a piece of Edison's electric cable. To be honest, if I had had a history teacher who could have gotten me this enthusiastic about the subject when I was in school, well I might just have made that my major. It would be great if Nathan Raab and his writing partner, Luke Barr were to pen another volume or two.....or three.
My thanks to the publisher, Scribner and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
My thanks to the publisher, Scribner and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
June 23, 2020
I began this book with one thought in mind: history matters. Anymore, it seems that countless continue to forget the major people and events in the past that has shaped the present day.
With this book, Nathan Raab takes readers on a journey through history by way of signatures on documents and other important historical artifacts. With every story from greats like MLK, Napoleon, Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson and Susan B. Anthony, Raab teaches the power that history can have on a human, and all of it’s wonders.
This was a fast read, yet slow at times too which is good for anyone digesting what has happened in the past. I would recommend this great work to anyone interested in history and all those who wish to time travel back to the past in order to understand the current events on today.
With this book, Nathan Raab takes readers on a journey through history by way of signatures on documents and other important historical artifacts. With every story from greats like MLK, Napoleon, Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson and Susan B. Anthony, Raab teaches the power that history can have on a human, and all of it’s wonders.
This was a fast read, yet slow at times too which is good for anyone digesting what has happened in the past. I would recommend this great work to anyone interested in history and all those who wish to time travel back to the past in order to understand the current events on today.
April 15, 2020
An incredible books by collector and seller Nathan Raab. I had never heard of him, but I loved the stories he told of his finding, examining, authenticating and selling amazing documents from history.
It was fascinating to understand how people would bring him items, their actions, his verification process and exposures of some frauds and forgers. For anyone who loves history and the documents that come with it. One of my favorites was the letter describing the finding of the Rosetta Stone. Some of the Einstein material was a bit overwhelming, but the stories that went with it were first-rate. I know that there were 2 recordings from JFK's Air Force One, but Raab gave no clue as to who has one of the recordings.
It was fascinating to understand how people would bring him items, their actions, his verification process and exposures of some frauds and forgers. For anyone who loves history and the documents that come with it. One of my favorites was the letter describing the finding of the Rosetta Stone. Some of the Einstein material was a bit overwhelming, but the stories that went with it were first-rate. I know that there were 2 recordings from JFK's Air Force One, but Raab gave no clue as to who has one of the recordings.
June 24, 2020
This is an excellent read that once you begin you will find it difficult to place down until you have finished. The author shares many personal stories of how he and his family began a business of acquiring, authenticating and selling rare historical items. In addition, he provides a compelling background story around each major item they have examined, and he pulls you into his investigation.
But more than a set of interesting stories and the science of validating historical artifacts, the author also provides you with a glimpse into the emotional attachment and respect that comes with the people connected to each item.
Definitely a top-rated book in this category, and I consider it a favorite I will read again!
But more than a set of interesting stories and the science of validating historical artifacts, the author also provides you with a glimpse into the emotional attachment and respect that comes with the people connected to each item.
Definitely a top-rated book in this category, and I consider it a favorite I will read again!
July 10, 2021
Sorry Nathan. You and your company are not the guardians of history as you claim at one point in this memoir. You are guardians for the most part of a certain aspect of history - documents by famous people that you believe will be valuable enough to make some money. I don't doubt his love of history or the fact that his company occasionally found documents that did not fit the description of relics of "great men," but these were usually beside the point.
I will say that I was fascinated by his description of how some documents were preserved or restored, and the efforts to prove or disprove the validity of some of the documents. But the real guardians of history are the libraries, museums and archives that often find themselves in competition with your company for certain documents.
I will say that I was fascinated by his description of how some documents were preserved or restored, and the efforts to prove or disprove the validity of some of the documents. But the real guardians of history are the libraries, museums and archives that often find themselves in competition with your company for certain documents.
October 16, 2020
This was a fascinating read about the work of authenticating rare documents and artifacts of historical significance. I love history and the preservation of historical items so I'm a little biased in my praise. It was a little slow in the beginning when the author described his learning curve in discerning an items value and authenticity but that is followed by chapters of individual items/collections that he is able to see. Those were fascinating! I was amazed at the families who stored these incredible documents for 4 or 5 generations and preserved them so well. An easy read that was well worth the time.
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