13 December 2016 - Rare Book Sale

#0294

Lot 350/10022

SOLD Hammer price €70

The Aran IslandsO’Flaherty (Tom) Cliffmen of the West, London Sands 1935. Photographs, shaken, but very scarce; with O’Flaherty, (Liam) Two Years, London, Cape 1930. First, New e.p.’s, rebacked.; Synge (J.M.) The Aran Islands, London, Unwin, 1934. (3)

Lot 351/10022

SOLD Hammer price €420

Signed & Inscribed CopiesO’Flaherty (Liam) The Informer, 8vo L. 1949. Reprint, orig. boards. * Inscribed on f.e.p. in Irish to ‘Móir’ explaining that the book was left [for signing] when he was away, and afterwards he did not have her address; Dúil [Storires in Irish]. (Sairséal agus Dill) 1953. First Edn., cloth, & good d.w. * Inscribed on f.e.p. to ‘Maire de Glinn’ with a good signature, dated 3 Aug. 1958; “Skerrett,” 8vo D. (Wolfhound Press) 1977, v. good in pict. wrapper. * Inscribed on prelim. “De Una O Liam O’Flaithbheartaigh’ a late signature. Skerrett was first published in 1937. As a lot. (3)

Lot 352/10022

SOLD Hammer price €280

With fine Signed Inscription from AuthorO’Flaherty (Liam) Land A New Novel, 8vo L. (V. Gollancz) 1946 First Edn., cloth in good d.w. (2)* Inscribed on f.e.p. “Do Padraic. Isuathbhasach an cur amach e seo rinne na diabhail de Shasanaigh seo. Acht is cuma sin – tiobhrad ceann diobh as Meriocá duit ar balle.” [This is a dreadful English production, but never mind, I’ll bring you one from America later’] [The book is produced according to the economy regulations in force at the time] Laid in is a photograph of a cottage, perhaps the O’Flaherty homestead in Aran. ‘Padraic’ is probably his friend Padraic O’Concheanainn. Inscribed copies of O’Flaherty’s work are uncommon. * Note: Padraic is Liam O’Flaherty’s nephew rather than friend.

Lot 353/10022

SOLD Hammer price €100

O’Concheanainn (Tomás) A Certificate from An tOireachtas Gaedhealach, 1901, stating that Tomás Ó Concheanainn won second prize for a ‘Leabhar Cainte’ [conversation book], signed by An Craoibhín Aoibhinn [Douglas Hyde], Uachtarán, with a copy of the periodical Feasta, Samhain 1970, containing a portrait of O Concheanainn and a biographical article. Ó Concheanainn was the first full-time organiser employed by the Gaelic League in its early days. (1)

Lot 354/10022

The Authors British PassportO’Flaherty (Liam) His British Passport, issued ‘in lieu of Irish Free State Passport D 110907, September 27th 1927’ identifying him as a British subject by birth and a novelist by profession, also listing his wife Margaret (nee Barrington) and their child Margaret, born 1926.With photographs and copious endorsements, mostly 1930 – 32, including Russian, German and American, one mentioning his Remington Portable. Rear pages have various interesting manuscript notes, names, addresses etc in several continents.A most interesting document, recording the adventures of a well-travelled man. (1)

Lot 355/10022

SOLD Hammer price €100

Signed by Author[O’Flaithearta (Liam)] His copy of the programme for ‘Got-seadh!’ performed at the Olympia Theatre in Dublin by Compantas Amharclainne na Gaeilge [Gaelic Theatre Company], 11-16 November 1946. With O Flaithearta’s signature in green ink on front. Evidently a humorous entertainment (the performers included one Gráinne Wail). The title presumably is pronounced ‘Gotcha!’. Scarce. (1)

Lot 356/10022

SOLD Hammer price €140

Clár Oireachtais 1906Conradh na Gaeilge: The original Programme for the Oireachtas Irish-language Festival 1906, with colour printed cover, details of competitions, participants, officers etc., inscribed on front cover by Tomas Ua Concheanainn, signature dated 1947 (forty-one years after the event). with List of Subscribers to Seachtmhain na Gaeilge Fund 1906 in City and County of Dublin. An Cló-Chumann 1906, 16mo. both very Scarce.Tomás Ua Concheanainn, from Aran, was Conradh na Gaeilge’s first full-time organiser. it is not clear why it took him forty years to sign his programme. (2)

Lot 357/10022

SOLD Hammer price €900

Original Corrected TypescriptÓ Flaithearta (Liam) A collection of five original corrected typescripts of stories in Irish, one apparently unpublished, as follows:a)An tAonach. Marked for ‘Fáinne an Lae’ [periodical], 5/9/25, 2 pp, Gaelic typescript, some amendments. Published in ‘Dúil’ [1953] as story 14 (p. 128).b)An Fiach. Fáinne an Lae 27.6.1925. 2 pp, Gaelic typescript. Added comment by ‘F. É.’ crossed out at end. Published in ‘Dúil’ as story 15 (p. 131).c)An Charraig Dhubh. Typescript, 4 pp, ms. amendments, published in ‘Dúil’ as story 3 (p. 25). With another typing, folio, carbon copy, 3 pp.d)Teangabháil. Typescript on yellow paper, 13 pp, manuscript amendments. Published in ‘Dúil’ as story 13 (p. 115). One of O’Flaherty’s best known stories.e)Comhrac Aonair. Typescript, 2 pp, commencing ‘Faoi sholas gleigeal an mhaidneachain, bhi an gleann glais-fhearach beo le luath-rith agus seitreach searrach ..’ Not in ‘Dúil’, apparently unpublished.An important collection. O’Flaherty’s typescripts and manuscripts are rare. (1)Provenance: O’Flaherty family.

Lot 358/10022

SOLD Hammer price €700

O’Flaherty, Tom [Tomas Ó Flaitheartaigh] An Archive including:-Copy TLS, 2 pp, to Frank Gallagher, Editor, Irish Press, February 1934, seeking employment as a journalist, with details of his experience, unsigned but evidently from TOF, with a second similar letter to a Mr. Quilty [while his experience was excellent, we suspect that his background was too far to the left for the Irish Press];-Correspondence about TOF’s book Cliffmen of the West;-Three TLS from TOF to his sister Lil, 1932 and 1933, one from America and two from Aran, interesting letters with much family and other news;-About 20pp carbon copy manuscript, apparently drafts of stories in Irish;-An extensive bundle (over 100 pp) of typescript in English, apparently drafts of TOF’s life story (possibly including drafts of ‘Cliffmen of the West’);-A bundle of manuscript in English and Irish, evidently drafts of TOF’s writings, about 100 pp in a clear hand in both languages.In need of further study, but a significant collection, which may cast light on his brother Liam’s work as well as his own. In a blue plastic case. (1)

Lot 359/10022

SOLD Hammer price €650

A Substantial CollectionÓ Concheanainn, Pádraic A substantial archive of correspondence relating to Pádraic Ó Concheanainn, born in Aran, for many years Secretary of the Irish-language academic publishers An Clóchomhar, including:-Nic Phiarais, Maighréad [Margaret Mary Pearse], a thank-you note and card from St. Enda’s, 1955;-Ó Cadhain, Máirtín, an ALS (2 pp) enquiring about some details of the Irish dialect of Aran, March 1945; -O’Nolan, Brian, a typed note signed ‘Myles na gCop.’ thanking him for a subscription of £1 for ‘Ciste Mhic Grianna’ [a collection for the writer Seosamh Mac Grianna], 1.4.49;-A few typescript copy letters apparently from his uncle Tomás Ó Concheanainn, first organiser of the Gaelic League, in Galway -a bundle of correspondence from and relating to Dónall Mac Amhlaigh, author of ‘Dialann Deoraí’, including some letters from Valentin Iremonger about his translation to English;-and some hundreds of pages of correspondence and documents relating to An Clóchomhar, from writers including Gearóid Mac an Bhua [Gerald Victory], Seán O Tuama, Mícheál Ó Gaoithín (son of Peig Sayers), Frank O’Brien, Breandan Ó Buachalla, Padraic Óg Ó Conaire, and many others, also letters about publication grants, An Club Leabhar, Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge, etc.An interesting archive, in need of sorting but including some useful material, in a box file. As m/ss, w.a.f. (1)

Lot 360/10022

SOLD Hammer price €600

Scarce Collection by the Brother of the NovelistÓ Flaitheartaigh (Tomás) An important folio copy-book containing what appear to be original manuscript Stories and Poems, mostly in Gaelic script, with some loose pages, including: Mallacht na Baintridhe [The Widow’s Curse], 6 pp, pages loose;An Capall Bán [The White Horse], 6 pp, signed at end;Bó 7 Sgailp [A Cow and a Cliff], 5 pp;Bás An Ghainéid [The Death of the Gannet], 6 pp, signed at end;An Préachán Mór [The Big Crow], 11 p;and two loose pages with what appear to be notes in English for stories;Written from the other end are poems including:An Deoraidhe [The Emigrant], 3 verses;Tomás Ó Gríobhtha [Thomas Griffith], 5 verses;Teanga na hÉireann [The Language of Ireland], 12 verses, signed at end Caitlín ní Fhlaithbheartaigh, with a printed cutting of the same poem (with same signature), evidently from a newspaper or magazine;Trial of John N. Payton for the wilful murder of Cumann Liteardha na Gaedhilge, 23 March 1914 [play in English], 22pp. (1)A unique collection, mostly by Liam O’Flaherty’s elder brother Tomás, who went to Boston as a young man. The comparison with Liam’s work is interesting, in view of the similar subject matter of some of the stories. English versions of some of these stories (Bó i Sgailp, The White Horse) are included in Tom O’Flaherty’s collection Cliffmen of the West [London 1935]. To the best of our knowledge, apart from Caitlín’s poem, most of these works are unpublished in their original versions. Caitlín ní Fhlaitheartaigh is presumably a sister of Tomás and Liam. It is said that Tomás was the first person to urge Liam to write (see Hogan, Dict. of Irish Literature). As a m/ss, w.a.f.

Lot 361/10022

SOLD Hammer price €700

Co. Sligo: Gaelic League: Connradh na Gaeilge. Craobh Shligigh, A 4to Minute Book of approx. 100pp, recording, in several hands, the foundation of the Branch in November 1918, and subsequent minutes up until 1929, written entirely in English. In rexine binding. (1)* It records names of organisers, participants and office holders, details of various activities including language classes, events during Seachtmhain na Gaeilge, collections and remittances etc. As a m/ss, w.a.f.

Lot 362/10022

SOLD Hammer price €650

Rare Manuscript Letter from An tOileanachÓ Criomhthain (Tomás) An tOileánach. An interesting ALS, 2 pp foolscap (single lined sheet), in Gaelic script, ‘O’n mBlascaod’ [from the Blaskets], 26.11.31, to a young woman evidently named Alice, entirely in Irish, including an original poem addressed to her in thanks for her letter to him, ‘A óig-bhean gur bród liom / Do leitir le léigheamh’, three verses each of eight lines, saying he has composed many similar poems for ‘cúilinn árd-chéimneach na hÉireann’ (noble Irish women), asking if she has his book ‘An tOileánach’ in her hand, mentioning a young woman from the Netherlands (Tír-fé-thuinn’) who has read it three times. ‘Seachtmhain do thug sí am theannta, agus d’fhág sí an t-oileán so gan oiread aghus aon fhoical abháin a n’asnamh airthe’ [She spent a week here with me, and when she left the island, there wasn’t one word lacking on her’]. With a bold signature.Letters from Ó Criomhthain are rare.(1)

Lot 363/10022

SOLD Hammer price €300

Moore (George) [1852-1933] Two short ALS, the first to Lady March, June 30 (no year), 1 pp, from 121 Ebury St., discussing the binding of the ‘de luxe’ edition of his new book. ‘The edition de luxe is sent out in boards, it being supposed that the buyers would like to have it bound to harmonise with their other books. If you have no special binding in your mind, I think you would do well to order your copy to be bound similar to the ordinary edition — a very pretty binding it is; you are sure to like it.’With a good signature.The second ALS, to ‘My dear Clinton’, dated 16.9.07, 2 pp (single folded sheet), responds to a request for poetry for ‘V.F.’ [Vanity Fair]. He says this is difficult, as ‘many of my published pieces would be recognised. I send you however a prose-poem ..’. With a good signature. As a m/ss, w.a.f. (2)

Lot 364/10022

SOLD Hammer price €160

Yeats (Susan Mary Lily) sister of W.B. and Jack Yeats. An interesting ALs to her Aunt Alice, from Dundrum, dated Feb. 9th, 1916, 2pp (single sheet), mostly about family history, the Pollexfens, family portraits etc., also mentioning some mutual friends, with a good signature. (1)

Lot 365/10022

SOLD Hammer price €520

‘Stuffy old Aunt Lily ..’Susan Mary (Lily) Yeats: Two ALS to her relation Olive P. Jackson in Sligo, from Dundrum, 1936 (4 pp) and 1943 (2 pp), with the envelopes, the first mostly about gravestones, family history, the Pollexfens and Stephens, an inheritance, and some family news – ‘Willy is better but he has to go slow – he is working away – but not going about beyond the garden. He went one night to the Abbey, the house was full & he was spotted & clapped & cheered by the house, he thought the curtain had gone up at first, it was nice of the people ..’The second letter also mentions W.B.Y.’s daughter Anne [Yeats], ‘she is as you say very unaffected & nice – everyone likes her – she has very pleasant friendly ways – & often looks a handsome girl – but I would like her to take more care of her appearance – Michael [her brother] is very much against her “slacks” – she always calls on me in a skirt, stuffy old Aunt Lily she probably thinks ..’ As a m/ss, w.a.f. (2)

Lot 366/10022

SOLD Hammer price €320

‘Except murderers of Prisoners ..’McBride (Maud Gonne): Two ALS to Mrs. Kiernan (probably the singer Delia Murphy, wife of the diplomat Thomas Kiernan), the first dated January ’59, the second undated, the first (1 pp) thanking her for an invitation but saying, ‘Now beautiful lady don’t think me horrid if I ask about “politicians”. I am unprincipled enough to associate with almost any – except murderers of prisoners – & I am just lady enough not to like being rude in other people’s houses. It is for you to say if I can come to your party or if I would be better going home to bed at a decent hour befitting an old granny of my age ..’, with a good signature.The second, a shorter note, invites Dr & Mrs Kieran [sic] to dinner at Roebuck House. As a m/ss, w.a.f. (2)

Lot 367/10022

SOLD Hammer price €500

‘Those Old Days Were Good Days ..’Yeats (Jack Butler) [1871-1957] A good collection of five autograph signed notes and letters to his relation Alice Pollexfen Jackson of Sligo, 1950-56, one mentioning a card showing Benbulben ‘looking so calm & magnificent’, another with a Christmas message, a longer letter in 1954 mentioning that ‘just for precaution I am going into winter quarters next week at Portobello. I will only be under open arrest – and for a time anyway able to move away, out & back. I hope indeed that you will let me know next time you are in Dublin so that we can meet. Yes, those old days were good days, and I am happy to think that we valued them as such.’In January 1956 he sends invitations to the opening of his loan exhibition in Belfast; and in August 1956, in the final year of his life, he offers condolences on the death of a young friend, little Letty Gorman, who used to visit him.. ‘I hope you are well in spite of this dismal August ..’All with good signatures, all on his addressed notepaper, all with the associated envelopes (but with the postage stamps neatly removed). As a m/ss, w.a.f. (5)

Lot 368/10022

SOLD Hammer price €1400

‘My Wife and I Are Old Friends’Yeats (William Butler) [1865-1939] A short ALS to his Aunt Alice (Pollexfen Jackson), November [1917], 1 pp, from Sussex, thanking her for her letter [evidently congratulating him on his marriage]. ‘My wife & I are old friends & fellow students & so I think we shall have a busy and cheerful life’. With a good signature, ‘W.B. Yeats’.With the associated envelope, addressed in Yeats’ hand, postage stamp partly removed.W.B. Yeats married George Hyde-Lees on 21 October 1917, after he had finally given up hope of Maud Gonne. They had known each other for a year or two, and were fellow students of theosophy. They did indeed have a busy and cheerful life. (1)

Lot 369/10022

SOLD Hammer price €900

Yeats (William Butler) 1865 – 1939: A short ALs to [his aunt] Alice [Pollexfen Jackson], 1pp, from an address in Calvados, France. ‘I have just heard of [her brother] Alfred’s death. I hardly saw him in recent years, but my memory of him long ago – more than forty years ago I think – at [the Pollexfen home] Merville is very vivid, he was a rich-natured, humorous, unambitious man.’ With a good signature, ‘W.B. Yeats.’With the associated envelope [addressed in another hand], the postage stamp neatly removed. (1)