Five Books from Jean Grolier's Library from Thomas-Scheler
The Grolier catalogue from Thomas-Scheler, with an inset of one of his bindings.
By Michael Stillman
It is not everyday that we receive a substantial catalogue that contains just five items. Here is the exception, and it comes from French bookseller Librairie Thomas-Scheler. It offers five books from the 16th century, classics all as one would expect. However, it is not really the content that makes these books unusual. What is exceptional is the bindings. These books all came from the library of the greatest French collector, Jean Grolier, who housed his books in the finest bindings imaginable. The bindings in his library were so remarkable that Grolier's name has survived the almost five centuries since his collecting days. The notable book collectors' organization in New York, the Grolier Club, is named for him.
The title of this catalogue is Le Prince des Bibliophiles Jean Grolier (1479-1565). Grolier was known as the Prince of Bibliophiles. He was involved in finance and served many years as Treasurer-General of France. He was evidently quite well off financially as his collection attests. It contained some 3,000 volumes, of which around 600 are known to survive today. Grolier's books are noted for their ornamental bindings featuring geometric patterns.
When Grolier died in 1565, most of his books passed down to his son-in-law Meric de Vic, an employee of the King, and then on to his son. They remained together for a century after Grolier's death, finally being dispersed in a great sale in 1676.
While the bindings have made Grolier famous, he was not just interested in books as objects of art. It was his deep respect for the knowledge within that led him to treat them in such a spectacular manner. Grolier was known to give many books to his friends, such was his appreciation of them, along with placing so many in his own library.
The five titles offered by Librairie Thomas-Scheler are as follow:
De Poetis latines by Petrus Crinitus, published in Florence in 1505.
Opera, with works by the Roman writers Catullus, Tibullus, and Propertius, published in Venice in 1515.
De Rerum Natura by Titus Lucretius, published in Venice in 1515.
Il libro del cortegiano by Baldassare Castiglione, published in Venice in 1528.
Le Imagini con tutti I Riversi trovati et le Vite...by Antonio Zantani, published in Parma in 1548.
It is a mark of many fine libraries all over the world to have a Grolier binding in their collection. You can too. For more information and pricing, contact Librairie Thomas-Scheler at +33 (0)1 43 26 97 69, or basane@thomas-scheler.fr.
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.")
