Once in a while an unusual and entirely unexpected auction occurs in the world of books, manuscripts and ephemera. Even more unusually it occurs off the beaten track. An auction on August 9th that continues through the 12th, in Terre Haute, Indiana is one of these occasions. This is a four day sale of diverse material owned by The Sisters of Providence and Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods College that is being sold to raise money for physical plant improvements and scholarships. On the first day, more than 100 examples of fore-edge painting, the gift of Gladys McKenney Molony of Los Angeles, a 1928 graduate of Saint-Mary-of-the-Woods, go under the hammer. In this obscure category of book collecting this amounts to a trove and is perhaps the largest concentration of such material to be offered since the Doheny collection of fore-edge painted books was dispersed at Christie's in the late 1980s. This sale in fact includes half a dozen items from the Doheny collection. For many years Mrs. Molony purchased examples of this esoteric art from Laurence J. Weber of Jeff Weber Rare Books in LA. He is the leading dealer in the United States in this category. Mrs. Molony inevitably inscribed the books acquired and had them sent directly to the college. Over almost 25 years [1977-1992], through her generosity, the library received more than a hundred items. This material is well worth a careful look.
For the experienced bibliophile the rule is where there is smoke there is a distinct possibility of other fires and the fore-edge painted material is an indication that other books are worth a careful look. This said, only a small portion of the material is catalogued but it's encouraging. A link at the end of this article provides a look at the catalogued material though it represents little more than 5% of what's available. Several thousand books will be sold on Thursday. Bidders will be able to select from shelves of un-catalogued books those volumes they wish to be put up. The balance of the material will be sold in large lots. There are no estimates and all material is offered "as is." Anyone interested to bid should contact the auction house, request images and ask questions. Better still, consider a trip. There's a Hampton Inn in town and a discount available if you say the secret word: auction. Terre Haute is due west of Indianapolis on the Indiana-Illinois border. And for those with a yen for European travel I want to point out that Rome, Dublin, Lisbon, Edinburgh and Paris are all found within the state.
In any event, these books are being sold out of their rare book room. When is the last time you heard that? Here in no specific order are a few of the listed items. I include Canadian and American material and again mention that neither their condition nor completeness is confirmed. There are also some very old European items that the knowledgeable may recognize.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("Martinus Luther") to His Friend the Theologian Gerhard Wiskamp ("Gerardo Xantho Lampadario"). $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: An Exceptionally Fine Copy of Austenís Emma: A Novel in Three Volumes. $40,000 - $60,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Presentation Copy of Ernest Hemmingwayís A Farewell to Arms for Edward Titus of the Black Mankin Press. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript Signed Integrally for "The Songs of Pooh," by Alan Alexander. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Manuscript of "Three Fragments from Gˆtterd‰mmerung" by Richard Wagner. $30,000 - $50,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Preliminary Artwork, for the First Edition of Snow Crash. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("T.R. Malthus") to Economist Nassau Senior on Wealth, Labor and Adam Smith. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides Finely Bound by Michael Wilcox. $20,000 - $30,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: First Edition of Lewis and Clark: Travels to the Source of the Missouri River and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Original Artwork for the First Edition of Neal Stephenson's Groundbreaking Novel Snow Crash. $100,000 - $150,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: A Complete Set Signed Deluxe Editions of King's The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. $8,000 - $12,000.
Bonhams, Dec. 8-18: Autograph Letter Signed ("John Adams") to James Le Ray de Chaumont During the Crucial Years of the Revolutionary War. $8,000 - $12,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Hooke, Robert. Micrographia: or some Physiological Descriptions of Minute Bodies made by Magnifying Glasses. London: James Allestry for the Royal Society, 1667. $12,000 to $15,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Chappuzeau, Samuel. The history of jewels, first edition in English. London: T.N. for Hobart Kemp, 1671. $12,000 to $18,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 12: Sowerby, James. Exotic Mineralogy, containing his most realistic mineral depictions, London: Benjamin Meredith, 1811, Arding and Merrett, 1817. $5,000 to $7,000.
Heritage Auctions Rare Books Signature Auction December 15, 2025
Heritage, Dec. 15: John Donne. Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death. London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
Heritage, Dec. 15: F. Scott Fitzgerald. Tender is the Night. A Romance.
Heritage, Dec. 15: Jerry Thomas. How to Mix Drinks, or the Bon-Vivant's Companion, Containing Clear and Reliable Directions for Mixing All the Beverages Used in the United States…
![<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/8caddaea-4c1f-47a7-9455-62f53af36e3f.jpg "<b>Heritage, Dec. 15:</b> John Donne. <i>Poems, By J. D. With Elegies on the Author's Death.</i> London: M[iles]. F[lesher]. for John Marriot, 1633.")
