I have heard that years ago,before the keepers of historical material realized what was happening or even cared,raiders would regularly loot libraries,museums,courthouses and probably even the National Archives and clean out the good material.

Any clipped signature you see for sale today is a result.Just consider the tragic loss to historians of a seperated RE. LEE,GEORGE WASHINGTON,SAM HOUSTON etc.from its original document..

As an example,I would regularly pick up building permits in an old city building in Dallas.Got to talking about my interest in history with one of the clerks and she said hey,we have a room here we call,"The Vault" where we store all that junk.So I went up there and just walked in.Well my gosh its all there!Everything from 1840s Dallas up to the 1980s or so.Original maps,plats,surveys,documents etc...Just amazing material..I may have helped get the ball rolling and they have now some security but just imagine what had aleady been looted...

MWT