Yeoman's in the Fork has issued their first printed catalogue, aptly titled 2011 Catalog - One. Yeoman's has been selling books for several years, but is now venturing into print. As Director of Operations Mike Cotter points out, "The stakes are getting higher in the 'Battle of the Book'" as new technologies emerge. The place printed books will hold in the future is unknown, but their survival will depend on those who collect today passing down their love of books to the next generation." This catalogue is this bookseller's attempt to pass along this essential piece of our collective history.
Yeoman's in the Fork is located in Leiper's Fork, Tennessee. I will admit to being one of those people who did not know where in Tennessee Leiper's Fork is, so I looked it up on a map. It's close to Nashville. You can combine a trip to the Grand Ole Opry with a visit to Yeoman's store. Or, you can combine a trip to Yeoman's store with a visit to the Grand Ole Opry. But, if you aren't heading that way, you can contact Yeoman's for a catalogue and I am sure they will be glad to help. Now, here are a few items from their selection of books and documents.
If you collect any of America's first three presidents, here are some early collections of the writings of these founding fathers. The Writings of George Washington is a 12-volume set of the first President's papers, correspondence, messages, and other material taken from original manuscripts, along with a life of the author. This first collected edition was published by Jared Sparks from 1834-1837. Sparks was a noted American historian of the first half of the 19th century, along with being an editor, Unitarian minister, and President of Harvard. Sparks received some criticism of his work as he at times edited his subject's writing to correct errors in grammar, spelling and such, though sticking to the basic text. Nonetheless, his research was the most thorough available in his time. Priced at $1,500.
Next comes The Works of John Adams, published from 1850-1856. This is another 12-volume set, comprising the second President's papers and a biography of the man. Adams, long remembered primarily for the one truly bad part of his career, promoting the Alien and Sedition Acts, has recently begun to be seen for all the great accomplishments of an otherwise outstanding, patriotic career. This set was written by Charles Francis Adams, his grandson. Charles Francis is somewhat obscured by having been both the son and grandson of presidents, yet he had a major political career in his own right. He was the Free Soil Party candidate for vice-president in 1848, a third party voice against slavery, served in Congress and was Ambassador to England during the Civil War. In this last role, he was critical in preventing the British from siding with the Confederacy. $2,250.
Finally, we have The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, a four-volume set published in 1829. This set was also the work of a President's grandson, in this case Thomas Jefferson Randolph. Randolph served in the Virginia House of Delegates where he introduced a plan that would gradually eliminate slavery (setting a date whereafter children born of slaves would be free), the last serious southern attempt to do away with slavery peacefully. $3,000.
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. 17: Francesco Colonna. Hypnerotomachie, Paris, 1546, Parisian calf by Wotton Binder C for Marcus Fugger. €200,000 to €300,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Nausea. De principiis dialectices Gorgias, and other works, Venice, 1523, morocco gilt for Cardinal Campeggio. €3,000 to €4,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 17: Billon. Le fort inexpugnable de l'honneur, Paris, 1555, Parisian calf gilt for Peter Ernst, Graf von Mansfeld. €120,000 to €180,000.
Sotheby’s Book Week December 9-17, 2025
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Salinger, J.D. The Graham Family archive, including autographed letters, an inscribed Catcher, a rare studio photograph of the author, and more. $120,000 to $180,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of Sense and Sensibility, the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.
Sotheby’s, Dec. 16: Massachusetts General Court. A powerful precursor to the Declaration of Independence: "every Act of Government … without the Consent of the People, is … Tyranny." $40,000 to $60,000.
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>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.](https://ae-files.s3.amazonaws.com/AdvertisementPhotos/9a74d9ff-42dd-46a1-8bb2-b636c4cec796.png "<b>Sotheby’s, Dec. 16:</b> [Austen, Jane]. A handsome first edition of <i>Sense and Sensibility,</i> the author's first novel. $60,000 to $80,000.")
![<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.")
