Jose Rizal's rare poetry book for Leonor Rivera among pieces to be auctioned at Leon Gallery’s Kingly Treasures Auction 2025

Jose Rizal's legacy will take centerstage at Leon Gallery’s The Kingly Treasures Auction 2025 in December, with several Rizaliana artifacts set to go under the hammer. 

Among the artifacts to be auctioned are the first editions of Rizal’s literary masterpieces, “Noli me Tangere" (1887) and “El Filibusterismo" (1891).

According to Leon Gallery history consultant Lisa Guerrero-Nakpil, each novel showcases the national hero’s political eloquence and helped spark the chain of events that ultimately led to his martyrdom at Bagumbayan in December 1896.

Aside from his novels, the gallery will also auction Rizal’s rare poetry book dedicated to Leonor Rivera. Per Leon Gallery, it is the only surviving love token of Rizal for Rivera, which was likely acquired by him when he was still studying in Madrid. 

“The Album poético fostered a private, intellectual connection between them, with her frequently consulting its well-thumbed pages for comfort and strength that helped maintain their relationship through years of separation,” Nakpil said. 

The auction will also feature a photograph of Rizal taken by renowned French-Spanish photographer Edgardo Debas, which was meant to be the frontispiece for “El Filibusterismo.”

The Kingly Treasures Auction is happening on December 6, 2 p.m., at the Leon Gallery in Makati City. 

—Jade Veronique Yap/CDC, GMA Integrated News