Mark S. Robbins would classify himself as an inveterate collector. He began with stamps, then coins, fossils, and vintage sports memorabilia, before becoming acquainted with the field of historical documents in 1982.
That year, while attending a medical conference at Resorts International in Atlantic City, Robbins happened upon a "junque" shop in the arcade beneath the hotel. There, he encountered historical documents firsthand and prompted an experience that laid the groundwork for his recurring habit: researching each piece to its fullest extent.
Says Robbins: "The owner of the 'junque shop' showed me two letters: one from Warren G. Harding as U.S. Senator (1916) to Col. Wm. F. Stone of Baltimore, Maryland, and another from Spiro Agnew to a Wm. F. Stone, Baltimore, Maryland, written in 1966. Figuring this represented either a father-son or father-grandson connection, I wrote Mr. Stone at the 1966 address. I discovered not only that he was alive at age 95, but that his grandfather-the recipient of Harding's letter fifty years earlier-had served as sergeant-at-arms at several Republican National Conventions, including the 1904 convention, where he brought his grandson, who met Buffalo Bill."
"From this," Robbins continues, "I learned that there is usually a deeper story-one that many times equals or exceeds the document that sparked the research. I also learned how generous people can be in helping you, including curators, research historians, archivists, authors, dealers, and fellow collectors. I have benefited from all of them. Research places the individual document in historical context and is a very gratifying pursuit. I also learned that, at least at that time, one's chances of receiving a response from a public figure-even a former president-were better than I had imagined."
He adds: "I assumed I knew American history after majoring in the subject in college. It turns out I didn't know as much as I thought. The vast bulk of what I've learned has come from collecting and researching historical documents, which in turn influenced my reading choices. Back in the day, even if you bought nothing and simply read the catalogs from Robert Batchelder, Catherine Barnes, Paul C. Richards, Joseph Rubinfine, and others, you came away with real knowledge."
To display his collection, Robbins turned to photography rather than prints or lithographs. "My initial idea of framing documents alongside vintage image reproductions led me into the field of historical photography. There were remarkable candid photographs taken by 19th and early 20th-century photographers, and I sought to incorporate these whenever possible instead of engravings."
Reflecting on the evolution of the trade, Robbins observes: "The autograph and historical document field is much different than when I entered it more than forty years ago. Today's trends-grading, slabbing, single-word collector cards, an emphasis on cut signatures, and a reliance on third-party authentication at the expense of learning to self-authenticate-might disappoint and confuse many of the great dealers of the past, and even some in the present. At the same time, I recognize and accept the requirements of a newer generation of collectors."
"It's been a great ride," Robbins concludes. "I've learned a lot and had a lot of fun. But as the saying goes, you can't take it with you. I hope future owners of these documents derive pleasure from my collecting efforts and continue to preserve these items of American heritage."
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