The Bruning Rare Book Collection Auction – “200 Years in the Making”
B & H Auction is proud to present Part II of the Bruning Estate, a remarkable library of rare and collectible books assembled and preserved over generations.
This auction features an exceptional selection of works dating from the 18th through the 20th centuries, including many sought-after first editions, early printings, and historically significant volumes across literature, history, exploration, and other classic subjects. Carefully kept within the Bruning family for decades, the collection reflects a deep appreciation for literature, scholarship, and the printed word.
Many books in this library carry a special family provenance, bearing the name of Dr. Charles Vose Bemis, the great-grandfather of Martha Chandler Raymond Bruning. These inscriptions offer a fascinating glimpse into the intellectual life of a 19th-century New England family and add a meaningful historical connection to the collection.
Mrs. Bruning, born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, maintained this family library throughout her life, preserving volumes that had passed down through generations while also adding notable works of her own. Together with her husband, Theodore E. Bruning Jr., she created a home filled with books, history, and objects that reflected their shared curiosity and love of learning.
Appropriately titled “200 Years in the Making,” this auction offers collectors the opportunity to acquire volumes spanning centuries of literary history—from early 1800s works and classic literature to important 20th-century first editions.
Highlights from the library include works by notable authors such as Virginia Woolf, Charles Dickens, C. S. Lewis, Charles Darwin, J. R. R. Tolkien, Arthur Conan Doyle, Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr., Beatrix Potter, Jean de Brunhoff, T. E. Lawrence, E. B. White, A. A. Milne, Norman Rockwell, Winston Churchill, Henry David Thoreau, Alexis de Tocqueville, Helen Bannerman, William Rawle, Margaret Mitchell, Richard Chase, J. K. Rowling, Henry James, and Mark Twain, among others.
In addition to the books, the sale also includes early maps, family scrapbooks, historical paper ephemera, and other related materials from the estate, offering further insight into the family’s history and the era in which these volumes were collected and preserved.
Whether you are a seasoned collector, a scholar, or simply someone who appreciates the beauty and history of fine books, the Bruning Rare Book Collection represents a rare opportunity to acquire pieces from a thoughtfully preserved private library.
We invite you to explore the catalog and discover the remarkable books, maps, and historical papers that make up this extraordinary generational collection.
Online bidding is now open, with the auction closing April 2 beginning at 6:00 PM.

Join us for PREVIEW on Monday, 3/23 & Tuesday, 3/24 from 9:30-4:00pm and/or Saturday, 3/28 from 10am-1pm at the B&H Auction Gallery located at 3739 US 29 HWY, Danville, VA 24540

***PICKUPS are by Appointment Only – call 434-836-4636 or email: [email protected]***
PICK UP LOCATION: Auction Gallery, 3739 US 29 Business, Danville, VA 24540
PICK UP DATES & TIMES: Tues, 4/7, Wed, 4/8, Thurs, 4/9 from 9:30 – 11:30 & 1pm – 4pm

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ONLINE CATALOG AND TO PLACE YOUR BIDS!

Sale conducted by Steve Burke, auctioneer VAAL #2759, VAFL #871, NCAL #9321, NCFL #10110