13 December 2011 - Rare Book Sale

#0216

Lot 549/0216

SOLD Hammer price €800

Republican: A very good 1916 Rising Veteran Medal, with Celtic decoration, clasp and orange and green ribbon, the medal sunburst design with depiction of the fallen Cuchulain in centre, the reverse inscribed Seachtain na Casra – 1916, recipient unknown. fine Example. (1)

Lot 550/0216

SOLD Hammer price €860

Republican interest: A very good set of Irish Service Medals with Certificate:

Murphy (Thomas) A very good set of Irish Service Medals awarded to Thomas Fallon of Waterford, includ:
* 1917 – 1921 Service Medal, in original box.
* Fianna Eireann Jubilee Medal, Rare.
* Original Fianna Eireann colour printed Celtic designed Certificate, signed by Eamon Martin, Chief of Staff,
printed by Three Candles, in remarkably good condition.
*A 1921 – 1971 Jubilee Service Medal.
The entire is very good condition. As a lot.
Provenance: Direct descent from the family. (1)

Lot 551/0216

SOLD Hammer price €140

Rare Irish Army “Congo” Medal

Medal: Irish Army, “Congo” Mission, a circular bronze Medal First Issue, the obverse depicting a view of the World surrounded by laurel branches and surmounted by “U.N.” the reverse inscribed “In The Service of Peace,” with blue ribbon and bar inscribed “Congo” awarded to Private P.J. Hales, H.Q. Athlone, Easter Week 1961, no. 32.O.N.U.A., good example, scarce. (1)
* The bar denotes service in Congo in the years 1960 – 1961, First Issue Medals are Scarce.

Lot 552/0216

SOLD Hammer price €380

Republican interest: A large photogravure portrait print Arthur Griffith, head and shoulders, approx. 60cms x 40cms (23 1/2″ x 15 3/4″), and an oval portrait James Connolly, approx. 44cms x 34cms (17 1/4″ x 13 1/2″), a pair in matching oak frames. (2)

Lot 553/0216

SOLD Hammer price €750

Wellesley (Arthur) Later Duke of Wellington, Autograph signed letter from Dublin Castle, 1808, to the Lord Primate (Archbishop of Armagh), concerning a legal opinion ‘that the Irish Peers have a right to appoint Chaplains; but that the Chaplains are not exempted from residence in Ireland.’ 2pp. (single sheet) paper watermarked 1802, worn at fold. As a m/ss, w.a.f.
* Wellesley was Chief Secretary for Ireland, 1807-9, during a break in his military career. (1)

Lot 554/0216

SOLD Hammer price €280

Butt (Isaac) Founder of the Home Rule Party. A long ALs. from his Dublin address, 30 May 1856, 4pp single folded sheet, strengthened at fold, on mourning paper, apparently responding in detail to criticism of his writing in a journal; with two later letters, one with orig. envelope with Penny Red Stamp., responding to requests for autographs. As a lot, w.a.f. (1)

Lot 555/0216

SOLD Hammer price €500

Tenant Right in Co. Antrim, 1874

Album: [Wilson (Chas.)] An interesting scrapbook containing detailed coverage of elections in Co. Antrim, 1870’s, with particular reference to the Tenant – Right candidate Charles Wilson, with mounted reports of speeches, public meetings, letters to newspapers, editorials, etc; also with an ‘Election Ballad’ dated 1874, and five tenant – right election posters neatly laid down, other items laid in at the back. In a strongly bound leather backed album, in excellent condition.
* Valuable material on a largely forgotten campaign. Wilson was not successful. (1)

Lot 557/0216

SOLD Hammer price €240

Republican: Irish Volunteers – Oglaigh na hEireann. General Scheme of Organisation, 8vo D. [1913], 16pps, annotated in pencil on back cover (“Foley of Cashel, “Harte” and “Canon” slightly faded), possibly listing proposed or actual members of the Volunteers, covers loose. Scarce. (1)

Lot 558/0216

SOLD Hammer price €180

U.V.F. in World War I: Ulster Volunteer Force Hospital – Christmas Book 1915, oblong folio Belfast (Wm. Stain & Son) 1915 / 1916. Sole Edn., profusely illus. with views & ports. orig. printed wrappers with “Red Hand,” & “Union Jack,” back cover frayed at edges. (1)

Lot 560/0216

SOLD Hammer price €525

Home Rule Bills of 1886 & 1893 – Redmond’s Copies

Redmond (John) His own interleaved copies of the Home Rule Bill 1886, & 1893, with related documents, bound together apparently for use during committee discussions on the Bill of 1912, in a folio rexine – covered volume, label on upper cover titled in Redmond’s hand, ‘Home Rule Bills / 1886 / 1893/ 1912’ (although the 1912 Bill is not in fact present). Now in a strong cloth slip case. Laid in at front is a 3pp typescript by the historian Prof. D.B. Quinn, who apparently purchased the book in Cork in 1964. With m/ss note on end paste down ‘From Aughavanagh Sale / Wednesday August 24th, 1932,’ With some marginal markings indicating that the volume was in fact used by Redmond, who was intimately involved in the progress of the 1912 Bill. Also with related article in issue of Irish Historical Studies 1970. (1)

Lot 561/0216

SOLD Hammer price €55000

The Proclamation of the Irish Republic

An Original Copy with a Fine Provenance

Poblacht na hEireann. the Provisional Government of the Irish Republic to the People of Ireland. “Irishmen and Irishwomen! In the name of God and of the dead generations form which she receives her old tradition of nationhood, Ireland through us, summons her children to her flag and strikes for her freedom…. .”

An original copy of the Proclamation, printed under armed guard at Liberty Hall on Easter Sunday 1916, and read aloud by P.H. Pearse under the portico of the General Post Office on Easter Monday.
Printed on (newsprint) paper of poor quality, somewhat brown as usual. With all the typographical peculiarities due to shortage of type, etc., as identified by J.J. Bouch in his bibliographical study, with correct size, length of printed line etc., and other measurements within the tolerances established by Bouch. Unquestionably an original copy of the 1916 printing and guaranteed as such.

This copy with a sizeable piece torn away from the third paragraph, right hand side, damaged when removed (in haste) from a hoarding, with some loss of text, now professionally restored, the missing text supplied by hand on a backing sheet, also some other minor dam., and repairs, and stains including cellotape and what are reported to be blood stains. Framed.

Provenance: During Easter Week this copy of the Proclamation was posted in North King Street, just beside the Four Courts in north central Dublin, an area which saw some of the most intense fighting (see Caulfield, The Easter Rebellion pp. 81-83, 162-3). It was removed by Murty Tubridy from Co. Clare, who served as Volunteer in Ned Daly’s Battalion, and was part of a unit headed by Peadar Clancy. His main involvement centred around the Four Courts where he was appointed as grenade thrower, and was also responsible for constructing a blockade on Kings Street. On the second last day of the fighting (Easter Friday) he received some minor injuries and was grazed also on the ear. He was sent to Richmond Hospital for treatment, and while being moved to the hospital by his comrades he first removed the above Proclamation from the hoarding at King Street which he had been blockading. Soon after he arrived at Richmond he was advised, ‘If you are anyway mobile vacate the premises’ as the hospital was soon to be raided. His Battalion surrendered on 29th April, 1916, but Tubridy was not detained at this time. He was later imprisoned at Dundalk Jail, where he was granted parole, organized by Austin Stack who was leader of the prisoners for four days for his fathers funeral. He also served in Belfast, with Terence Mac Swiney, Thomas Mc Curtin and other prominent Republican Prisoners.

*Authentic copies of the Proclamation have always been rare, particularly those with a traceable provenance. Although it is accepted somewhere around 1000 copies were printed distribution was very limited, and the vast majority were damaged by rain, or destroyed in the shelling and fires during the Rising. Our best estimate is that no more than 40 – 50 copies have survived to the present day, and most of these are in institutional collections where they are likely to remain.

In respect of its condition, the present copy leaves something to be desired and this we have taken into account in the estimate price, but at least it can be said that its wounds were received in action. An amazing relic of this momentous time in Irish History.

Authenticity and Provenance guaranteed, sold as seen in respect of condition. (1)
By direct family descent, Murty Tubridy to Mrs. C.D. Kelly.

Lot 562/0216

SOLD Hammer price €600

Irish War News – The Irish Republic

Republican interest: IRISH WAR NEWS _ THE IRISH REPUBLIC. Vol. I No. 1 [All Published]. Dublin Tuesday April 25, 1916. 4pp (single folded sheet) sm. 4to Ex. Rare.
* A very good copy of this rare and fragile item, printed on the morning of Easter Tuesday in the printing works under insurgent control in central Dublin. Much of the contents were prepared in advance, but the Stop Press column on back page appears to have been written after the Rising began. A little foxing, but an unusually good copy. (1)

Lot 563/0216

SOLD Hammer price €360

General Maxwells Command

Broadside / Poster: Public Notice, Arms & Ammunition, … Any Member of these Organisations … after 6th May, will be severely dealt with J.G. Maxwell, broadside approx. 35cms x 22cms, D. (Powell Press) 1916, some creasing. Good. (1)

Lot 564/0216

SOLD Hammer price €240

Proceedings of The First Dail

Dail Eireann: Dail Eireann. Tuairisc Infhedidh meach ar Sheiseon an Mheithimh, 17adh – 19adh (Session June 17 – 19, 1919). Printed text in Irish followed by English version, reporting the Dail business and debates in detail, including appointment of Arthur Griffith as Acting President in the Absence of the President, Eamon de Valera. Business included a resolution of thanks to American Congress, Acting – Presidents’ Address, departmental reports, Ministerial proposals etc. 8vo 16pp, orig. ptd. wrappers, somewhat browned and spotted. An exceptionally rare item. (1)

Lot 565/0216

SOLD Hammer price €650

THE FIRST DAIL

O’Connor (Fergus) Publisher. The Declaration of Irish Independence Official English Translation. Historic Pronouncement of Ireland’s Freedom from English Rule, made at the first meeting of Dail Eireann (Ireland’s Republican Parliament) in the Mansion House Dublin, on Tuesday January 21st, 1919, roy 8vo 3pp (single folded sheet) some finger & dirt marks & folding crease on verso.
* An extremely rare document. The declaration states that ‘whereas the Irish people is by right a free people: and whereas for seven-hundred years the Irish people has never ceased to repudiate and has repeatedly protested in arms against foreign usurpation… Now therefore we, the elected representatives of the ancient Irish people in National Parliament, Assembled, do, in the name of the Irish Nation, ratify the establishment of the Irish Republic and pledge ourselves and our people to make this declaration effective by every means at our command… ‘ The declaration was adopted by acclamation, as the first substantive business on the first day’s meeting of The First Dail, when the Sinn Fein M.P.s. elected at the British General Election of 1918 (those not in jail) met & declared themselves to be Ireland’s sovereign Parliament.
This document was vehemently suppressed by the British, and very few copies have survived. (1)

Lot 566/0216

SOLD Hammer price €350

Ireland Joins the Free Nations of the World

First Meeting of Dail Eireann: O’Connor (Fergus) publisher, Ireland’s Address to the Free Nations of the World, Official English Translation. Roy 8vo D. 1919, FIRST EDN., 3pp. some marks.

* Extremely Rare. Having Proclaimed her Independence at the First Meeting of Dail Eireann held in the Mansion House, Dublin, Tuesday, 21st January 1919, this historic address was then sent out to the Free Nation of the World.

This document was also vehemently suppressed by the British, and very few copies have survived. (1)

Lot 567/0216

SOLD Hammer price €260

The Four Courts Diary, 1922

Poster / Flyer: Civil War 1922, “Stop Press, Poblacht na hEireann, A Diary from the Four Courts, June 28th, 1922,” approx. 24.5cms x 19cms, slight tear, otherwise good. Scarce.
* Produced by Anti-Treaty Forces, within the Four Courts, giving an account of the events from the first day of the bombardment. (1)
* Extremely Scarce.

Lot 568/0216

SOLD Hammer price €2600

Origins of The Civil War

A very important unpublished typescript report prepared in April 1925 by Comdt. Joe O’Connor (Seosamh O’Conchubhair] of the anti-Treaty IRA Executive, at the request of the IRA’s Chief of Staff [at this time Frank Aiken], outlining the contacts and discussions between leaders of the Free State Army and different wings of the IRA in the weeks leading up to the outbreak of open Civil War in late June 1922; with other typescript documents setting out the proposals discussed and largely agreed for reunification of the Army, with covering letters from O’Connor, from the Chief of Staff and from Sean Mc Bride, then IRA Director of Finance.
After Dail Eireann endorsed the Treaty and British forces began to withdraw from their Irish bases, a confused situation developed within the IRA. The Army Executive was divided between those who supported the new Free State Army led by Richard Mulcahy and Michael Collins, with headquarters at Beggar’s Bush, and those who opposed the Treaty or remained uncertain. When the Government prohibited an IRA Convention in March 1922, an anti-Treaty Executive was set up which withdrew allegiance from Dail Eireann; in April a group led by Rory O’Connor set up headquarters in the Four Courts.
After open fighting almost broke out in Limerick, there were negotiations between the Beggar’s Bush and Executive groups to reunify the Army, running parallel to political discussions on the ‘Pact.’ The details of these discussions remain obscure, and there is no fully authoritative account of how they finally failed. Frank Aiken had not been directly involved, and when he became Chief of Staff in April 1925 it appears he asked some of those involved to explain what went wrong.
Sean Mc Bride’s letter (15 May) encloses a series of typescripts apparently from the Free State side, outlining the Government’s proposals for reunifications of the Army dated 9 June 1922 (apparently drawn up by Gen. Eoin O’Duffy), and with a letter from Richard Mulcahy dated 12 June. with Joe O’Connor’s report, they show how close the two sides came to agreement. ‘The joint Army Council agreed to ask de Valera to accept M/D [the Ministry of Defence], to which he acceded, but on Collins returning from London he turned down that proposal, and the next move was to give us C/S [Chief of Staff]. To this we agreed, for the position was at this time critical. It was then proposed that O’Duffy should retain his position of C/S and that we should get two Deputy Chiefs of Staff. This we refused to agree to, although [Liam] Lynch was in favour of acceptance… There was I think another meeting but nothing was derived from it.'[O’Connor p. 2-3].
O’Connor also says the occupation of the Four Courts was not ordered by the Anti-Treaty Executive. ‘I think we met on Holy Thursday, certainly the Executive was in session, but there was no mention of occupying the Four Courts, and I was much surprised to hear on Good Friday that our Forces had taken possession of that building.’
O’Connor’s report describes a very confused situation on the Anti-Treaty side in late June — he was himself denied admission to the Four Courts on one occasion — and indicates that the actual outbreak of the Civil War came as a surprise. He attended an Executive meeting at the Four Courts on the day before the attack; ‘no mention was made of the arrest of O’Connell [the Free State Army’s deputy Chief-of-Staff ‘Ginger’ O’Connell, whose detention by the Anti-Treaty group was the final casus belli for Michael Collins]. ‘On leaving the meeting I was informed that the States were standing-to. I mentioned this to Lynch, and he remarked that he supposed O’Connell was still a prisoner there and I should inform [Joe] Mc Kelvie of the standing-to. The attack was opened that night, and the things which happened after are well known.
‘During the fight it was to my unit that de Valera reported, and on my insistence he went to G.H.Q. Hammam Hotel for the purpose of forming a Civil Authority. I cannot say what happened that such action was not taken.’
There are many other interesting matters in O’Connor’s report, which space does not permit us to outline here. We can find no reference to it in any published account, and it appears to be entirely new to historians. He was writing from memory, and may not be correct in everything he says, but if one accepts the broad outline of his testimony in relation to matters where he was personally involved, it is clear that the Civil War began almost by accident.
These documents are of the first importance for our understanding of one of the seminal events of recent Irish History, whose effects are still with us to this day. (1)

Lot 571/0216

SOLD Hammer price €160

Purser (Sarah) & Dulcibella Barton: Autograph signed letter from Purser to Dulcibella Barton, 4th May 1943, making complicated arrangements to meet in Kildare St.; with a worn cardboard lapel badge ‘Up Barton’ with portrait of Robert Barton (Dulcibella-‘s Brother), with covering note on envelope from Joseph Nolan saying he wore it at the elections in December 1918 (when Barton was elected for Sinn Fein). As a lot. (1)

Lot 577/0216

SOLD Hammer price €100

Stack (Austin) A short manuscript note from Austin Stack, dated 29 December 1922, and signed A. de S. D/F, single page; also a copy of issue No. 13, New Series of ‘Saoirse na hEireann Irish Freedom,’ for May 1929, with an obituary article on Austin Stack, 8pp, orig. ptd. wrappers. (2)