As published in the Washington Times:
A $900,000 Abe Lincoln? Presidential signatures, letters still fetch lofty prices Not everything ends up in an official library
By Jennifer Harper – The Washington Times – Monday, February 15, 2016
There are more than marked down mattresses for sale on President's Day. Consider presidential ephemera — the letters, autographs and documents from the nation’s highest office. Many historical items end up in academic institutions or official libraries. Those that don't are available to discerning collectors and devoted fans, at a certain price, of course. For sale from the Raab Collection, a premier private sales organization based in Pennsylvania: Lofty presidential communiques boasting amazing penmanship, some with equally lofty price tags.
Abraham Lincoln’s original order for a blockade of the Confederacy weighs in at $900,000, though a simple typewritten letter from Theodore Roosevelt is $2,800. The firm has also assembled “The Mount Rushmore Collection” featuring documents from all four presidents found at the noble mountaintop. That’s a mere $148,500. A 1964 letter from Ronald Reagan to a campaign official that announced he would support Barry Goldwater's bid for the White House is $10,000.
"I would very much like to lend a hand in your campaign and as you can well imagine I am convinced that Barry is the only true Republican candidate," the future president wrote to Theodore Humes, an aide to Goldwater.
"However, I have one question with regard to your request. There could be a kickback against you on the basis of my being a carpetbagger. What would you say if I could perhaps cook up a brief sentence about Barry Goldwater your opponents could not hit us over the head on the charge that I was an outsider interfering in your local or state politics? Let me know your thinking on this. Best regards, Ronnie.”
Peeking at the extensive offerings if free. Find it all at RaabCollection.com
There's also information for those who may have something valuable.
"Have a historical document or a collection to sell? We have had the privilege of introducing to the market some truly significant collections and individual pieces. Historical documents of famous people are family heirlooms, which descendants of the writers and recipients, as well as collectors, often chose to sell," the organization advises.
