Circle Auction is proud to offer an exceptional collection of lithographs by artist Thomas Hart Benton, assembled by the late Dr. Arthur Elman, a Kansas City-based oncologist and former French consul to the Midwest. Arthur was a man of myriad interests, passions, and talents, so much so that Kansas City Magazine once deemed him the most interesting man in Kansas City. In 2014, Arthur and Carolyn Elman teamed with designer Kelee Katillac to rescue the historic Henry Blosser House in Malta Bend, Missouri, which had been declared the most endangered home in the state by Governor Jay Nixon. Through years of careful preservation, renovation, and care, the 1870s homestead was restored to its former glory, curated into a landmark of thoughtful interior design and a refuge for historical objects and fine art. Among the locally-minded art collection were dozens of lithographs by Missouri’s favorite son Thomas Hart Benton. In 2025, the Henry Blosser House was offered for sale, leaving this extensive collection of Benton imagery to find new quarters. We invite art enthusiasts everywhere to join us for this uncommon opportunity to add these outstanding American prints to your collection.
– Register & Bid Here –
Register: First time bidders will need to create an account with Circle. After you have an account, you can register for the auctions you’re interested in bidding on here.
Auction Preview: Every auction we host an in-person preview a day or two before the auction closes. This is an opportunity for bidders to see items in person before bidding on them.
Bid: Our auctions take place online and are open for bidding for two weeks. You can either submit your highest bid for an item, or wait until the final day of the auction when bidding is most active. You can bid via computer, the Circle Auction app, or you can submit a phone bid by filling out our form here.
Buyer’s Premium: Auction winners, in addition to their high bid amount, pay a Buyer’s Premium of 19% (this fee helps keep the lights on at Circle).
Payment: After you have won an item, payment is due within five business days of the auction. We’ll email you an invoice which includes your winning bids and buyer’s premium (you will not be automatically charged to the card used during auction registration). We accept cash, credit, debit, wire transfers, and certified checks.
Pickup: Once your invoice is paid, you may pick up your item from Circle’s office during regular business hours. Please bring a copy of a photo ID to pick up your item. Circle Auction Office: 901 Woodswether Road, Kansas City, MO 64105
Shipping: While we don’t offer in-house shipping (making it the buyer’s responsibility to arrange shipment), we’ll happily guid you through the process. You can view more information on the shipping process and our list of recommended shippers here.
Free Delivery: We offer free delivery for any bidders within 20 miles of our offices for any item under 200 lbs on a set delivery date. (If you are outside of the 20 miles or the item is more than 200 lbs, please reach out to our office for a delivery quote.)
First time participating in one of our online auctions? Check out our guide here.
