The Hunt for History

by Nathan Raab

“A thrilling work of detection through the eyes of an expert, with false leads, forgeries and scoundrels—a fast and fascinating read.”

—Jonathan Harr, New York Times bestselling author of A Civil Action and The Lost Painting

Meet the Author

About Nathan

Nathan 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  collections in the country. He is one of the world’s most knowledgeable and respected experts in historical documents and authenticity. His writing has appeared in The New York Times and The Philadelphia Inquirer, and he frequently writes a column, “Historically Speaking,” for Forbes.com.

What People Are Saying

A leading dealer in historical documents and artifacts delivers a delightful account of his business…As skilled in satisfying readers as clients, Raab knows how to tell a story, chronicling how descendants of great historical figures invite him to their homes and reveal treasures…unfailingly entertaining.”

– Kirkus *Starred* Review

“The greatest gem can be buried under a mountain of rock,” he concludes, his enthusiasm for the chase palpable in this diverting account of treasure hunting in the fast lane—a welcome addition to the genre.

– The Wall Street Journal

In this part detective story, part history lesson... readers gain insight into the adventures of a real-life treasure hunter; Raab’s exploits will remind readers of Indiana Jones or Benjamin Gates of the National Treasure film series... With several chill-inducing moments combined with engaging writing, this book will hold readers’ interest until the last page.

– Library Journal

In another life, I want to be Nathan Raab living with our most celebrated heroes of the past. In The Hunt for History, we get a first-hand look at a time traveler, document detective, and historical harvester as he mines for—and often procures—lost treasures.

– Dan Abrams, New York Times bestselling coauthor of Lincoln’s Last Trial and Theodore Roosevelt for the Defense

Fascinates with its stories of tracking down rare artifacts from America's past….Raab’s track record as an antiquarian, restorer, curator and field-researcher is extraordinary.

– Douglas Brinkley, Katherine Tsanoff Brown Chair in Humanities and Professor of History at Rice University and author of American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race

A thrilling work of detection through the eyes of an expert, with false leads, forgeries and scoundrels—a fast and fascinating read.

– Jonathan Harr, New York Times bestselling author of A Civil Action and The Lost Painting

For those who collect—or just care about—the artifacts of history, Nathan Raab offers a compelling account of his wide-ranging adventures: absorbing journeys into the past that teach valuable lessons. A terrific feat of storytelling, The Hunt for History will forever change the way you think about the events that have shaped our current reality.”

– Daniel Weiss, President and CEO of The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Forget National Treasure—Nathan Raab’s historical adventures make him the Indiana Jones of rare document dealers….Not content to preserve history, here Raab makes some of his own in a detective story that will fascinate every collector and remind us all why history is too important to leave to the historians.

– Richard Norton Smith, author of the Pulitzer Prize finalist Thomas E. Dewey and His Times and other works of history

With his love for rare artifacts and long forgotten treasures, Nathan Raab takes us on a wild hunt and deliciously opens up numerous hidden crevices of history. What a rollicking ride this book is. What a statement about why we love history.

– Jay Winik, New York Times bestselling author of 1944 and April 1865

A tale of instinct, passion, patient research, and addictive interest—all animated by a son’s admiration for his father. Like John Hancock writing in large, bold letters, I would mark this book: ‘Highly recommended.

– Harold Holzer, National Humanities Medal Winner and author of Lincoln at Cooper Union and Lincoln and the Power of the Press

Worth reading for its tales of buried treasure and dogged detection. It‘s also keenly perceptive on the alchemy by which ink-and-paper relics become portals to the past, bringing history thrillingly alive.

– Benjamin Wallace, New York Times bestselling author of The Billionaire’s Vinegar

An absolutely riveting book that will have you experiencing moments of great significance as if they were occurring right in front of you…Perhaps Raab’s greatest talent is showing the importance of history—why it can teach us so much and fire us with inspiration.

– Andrew Carroll, New York Times bestselling author of War Letters and Letters of a Nation

Raab’s account underscores the richness of our heritage, adding intriguing footnotes to the history we thought we knew.

– Susan Eisenhower, President of The Eisenhower Group and author of Breaking Free and Mrs. Ike

About The Hunt for History


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.

Harcover March 10, 2020; Paperback March 2021


Latest News & Press

The Hunt for History: Behind the Scenes of a Great Collection

An introduction to the emotive power of the Otto Fisher collection, and what secrets it told   Below tells the story of a small...

Read More

The Hunt for History Published in Japan

The Raab Collection announced today that Nathan Raab’s newly released book, ‘The Hunt for History’ (Scribner) has been published in Japan.  This follows its first...

Read More

The Hunt for History Published Internationally

The Raab Collection announced today that Nathan Raab’s newly released book, ‘The Hunt for History’ (Scribner) has made its first international debut in South...

Read More

The Hunt for History in The Free Lance Star

The below article was originally posted here. Book review: ‘Hunt for History’ shows the value of physical contact with our past Jeff Schulze Apr...

Read More

The Hunt for History in the Winnipeg Free Press

The below review was originally posted here. History Hunter Chronicles Fab Finds Paperbacks By: David Pitt Posted: 4:00 AM CDT Saturday, May. 1, 2021...

Read More

Nathan Raab at Massachusetts Historical Society

Join the Massachusetts Historical Society for an online conversation with Nathan Raab, March 15, 2021 5:30 pm EST. They will discuss his newly released,...

Read More

Nathan Raab at Falmouth Museums on the Green

Join Falmouth Museums on the Green for a virtual talk with Nathan Raab, March 2, 2021 7:00 pm EST. They will discuss his newly...

Read More

Ford’s ‘Curious Minds’ Interviews Nathan Raab

Nathan Raab, President of The Raab Collection speaks about his newly released book, The Hunt for History, as part of the “Curious Minds” lecture...

Read More

A Sample From the Hunt for History

Get a tease from Nathan Raab’s acclaimed book, The Hunt for History. Download a PDF of “Andrew Jackson and the Trail of Tears, Chapter...

Read More

The Hunt for History Review: The Wall Street Journal

The below piece was first published on The Wall Street Journal’s website: https://on.wsj.com/2U45aNx   ‘The Hunt for History’ Review: A Textual Detective A manuscript...

Read More

Library Journal Review of The Hunt

Readers gain insight into the adventures of a real-life treasure hunter; Raab’s exploits will remind readers of Indiana Jones or Benjamin Gates of the...

Read More

A Limited Edition Bookplate for The Hunt for History

The Hunt for History (Scribner), Nathan’s first book, comes out March 10.  To celebrate the occasion, we commissioned artist Matthew James Collins, based in...

Read More

Invite Nathan to Speak

Contact
  • Invite Nathan to speak, sign books, and regale with his stories from the hunt, replete with original artifacts from history to make for a lively backdrop to an enlightening event.

     

Join Nathan on the Hunt


Sign up to learn more about the book and get notified as things happen.