Celebrating 250 Years of America: Raptis Rare Books Commemorates the Anniversary of the USA.

Raptis Rare Books was recently featured in the May 10, 2026 issue of Florida Weekly: Celebrating 250 Years of America – Florida Weekly

History comes to life this season on Worth Avenue, where Raptis Rare Books will mark the 250th anniversary of the United States with a remarkable exhibition of founding-era treasures. Set within the gallery’s refined Palm Beach space, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to encounter the documents, ideas and figures that shaped a nation. At its center is a volume from George Washington’s personal library, complete with his ownership signature—a tangible link to the country’s first leader. Nearby, visitors will find a striking portrait of Washington by Rembrandt Peale. The intellectual backbone of the young republic is equally represented. A first edition of “The Federalist Papers” and John Locke’s “Two Treatises of Government” highlight the philosophical underpinnings that guided the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The exhibition deepens with personal artifacts, including a rare 16-page autograph letter from John Adams, as well as documents signed by Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, John Hancock and Abraham Lincoln. Rather than retelling history, the collection presents it through primary sources that reveal the everyday workings of a fledgling nation. For collectors, historians and the simply curious, it’s a rare chance to stand face-to-face with the origins of America—one page at a time. The exhibition runs through May 22 at Raptis Rare Books, 329 Worth Avenue, Palm Beach.  For more, visit raptisrarebooks.com.