The Life & Times of George Washington from The Raab Collection

Another Washington namesake and admirer was the first great American writer, Washington Irving. Irving had already written several biographies, along with the novels and short stories for which he is best known, when he got around to preparing his final masterpiece, the five-volume The Life of George Washington. He wrote it in his 70s, the volumes being published from 1855-1859, the last shortly before he died at age 76. Item 2 is Irving's autograph manuscript of the final part of volume 4, wherein he evaluates Washington and his role in the Revolution. Describing Washington's motivations, Irving writes, "Glory, that blatant word, which haunts some military minds like the bray of the trumpet, formed no part of his aspirations. To act justly was his instinct, to promote the public weal his constant effort, to deserve the 'affections of good men' his ambition." $24,000.

Item 17 is a letter from Esek Hopkins, Commander in Chief of the Continental Navy, the naval counterpart to the army's commander George Washington. However, when appointed in December of 1775, Hopkins did not exactly have a large navy at his command. The navy had but seven ships, the flagship named Alfred! Nevertheless, Hopkins would lead his navy on a successful amphibious attack in the Bahamas in March of 1776. The Continental Navy attacked the defenses of New Providence, capturing weapons and supplies they brought back to America. One of the places that needed weapons was Dartmouth, Massachusetts, on Narragansett Bay. It was exposed to British attack. On March 18, Hopkins wrote to the Dartmouth Committee of Safety, offering "two 9 lb. guns and some shott," and further requesting that any shot too big for their guns be forwarded on to Providence or Howland's Ferry. $13,500.

Item 39 is the sole known surviving credential from the House of Representatives for the First Congress in 1789. Each of the new congressmen received such credentials from their states, which they turned in to Clerk John Beckley. The credentials the new senators turned in were saved in the senate's archives where they survive today. Beckley, however, threw out the ones he received in the House, seeing no further need for them. One, however, survived, and it is the only known survivor. Congressman George Thacher of Massachusetts evidently asked for his back as a keepsake. $75,000.

The Raab Collection has also obtained a collection of engravings pertaining to Washington that belonged to George Palmer Putnam, publisher of Irving's The Life of Washington. Many were gathered for use in that book, although not all were used, and some may have been collected simply for pleasure. At least one of these engravings is included with every manuscript in this catalogue, while some are offered separately.

The Raab Collection may be reached at 800-977-8333. Their website is www.raabcollection.com.