24 April 2012 - Rare Book Sale

#0217

Lot 1185/0217

Irish Army: A good clean “Sam Brown” with brass clasps and suspension, with label [selected Bridle, Buff, Handswen throughout for Hector Powe]. Good example. (1)

Lot 1186/0217

Very Rare Irish Flintlock Bellmouthed Carbine, c. 1770

A very rare Irish Flintlock Bellmouthed Carbine, circa 1770, 30 1/2″, round flared stel barrel, 14 3/4″, decorated and carved walnut stock (minor worm damage) stamped “i 913”. Steel shaped buttplate, brass fore-end and riger guard, early shaped lockplate, “Tower” crown and G.R. stamped lock. In goo dowrking order, overall in fair conditon for its e all in very dark patination and as in original found sleeper condtion. Bought from the auction clearnace of the old Georgian British fort oerlooking Derry and Lough Foyle on the Co. Donegal side. Said to have been used by The Irish Revenue Board and later by the irish Revenue Police of 1836 hence the “i 913” stamp for the Revenue Inspector 913. (1)

Lot 1187/0217

19th Century Cork Faction Fighters: An unusual and scrace “Irish” faction fighters Blackthorn Stock, with various knuckles and with mishaped end, the grip with string support.
Reputed to have been used in the West-Cork Faciton. Scarce. (1)

Lot 1188/0217

(Irish) American Civil War: A rare and scarce survival Cronge Hat for the “Irish Regiment, 8th Alabama,” the lift top side with bronze “Maid of Eireann,” and flanked with the letters “I.A.” (Irish Alabama), the forfront with a fronze number “8” (The Eight), with an attractive silk surround with shamrock and emblems, some wear, otherwise a good example. Scarce. (1)

Lot 1189/0217

The Ballymacoda Rifle

Artefact: A /25 “snider” patent Rifle, with brass mounted stock and brass trigger guard, with bayonet attachement and sight piece, some wear. Scarce. (1)
Provenance: This rifle was used in the American Civil War and was brought to Ireland in 1869 by Col. Mc Glure and was given by him to Peter O’Neill Crowley. It was the only rifle in Ballymacoda and was used in the attack on Knockadoon Coastguard Station.
This rifle was discovered buried in a haggard wall on the farm of the late Peter O’Neill Crowley about the year 1940 and was presented to Rev. Hugh O’Neill C.F. by the Youghal ’98 Committee through the Keane House on 22nd August 1949. (1)

Lot 1190/0217

Drawing: Keating (Tom) artist, St. John’s Ambulance, a head and shoulder pencil sketch of Captain T.M. Hamilton, in his St. John’s Ambulance Attire, approx. 32cms x 25cms, framed. Attractive. (1)

Lot 1191/0217

“A Boy of Only Eighteen Summers”

Photograph: Barry (Kevin) An attractive head and shoulders studio sepia Photoraph (enlarged) of Kevin Barry aged approx. 14 years, in formal attire, approx. 49cms x 39cms, framed. As a photograph. Scarce. (1)

Lot 1192/0217

Photograph: Republican Forces, an enlarged Reproduction Photoraph of the Tipperary Republican Forces, grouped toether in full military attire, in Graig-na-managh, 16.7.1922, approx. 58cms x 77cms (23″ x 30 1/2″), framed., attractive and rare. (1)

Lot 1193/0217

Co. Kilkenny Operations
Famous Irish Volunteer
Veteran of Irish & Spanish Civil War

Quinn (Capt. Patrick) A unique collection of Irish Civil War Medals, awarded to Captain Padraig Quinn, Fifth Batt. Kilkenny Brigade, I.R.A. Flying Column. Included are:

* His Fianna Eireann miniature Medal, clasp & ribbon.
* Comrac Medal, with bar & ribbon.
* The miniature Comrac Medal, bar & ribbon.
* L.D.F. Service Medal, Seirbhis Naisiunta.
* L.D.F. Miniature Medal – Seirbhis Naisiunta (awarded for Service during World War II.)
* 1921 – 71 Jubilee Medal, with ribbon,

Together with his important Medal / Cross “Al Merito Civile” received from Gen. Franco, c. 1948, for his services with Gen. Eoin O’Duffy’s Irish Brigade when he fought during The Spanish Civil War, 1936 / 37.

In addition, the collection includes the medals awarded to his wife, formerly Miss Pearle Mackay of Gowran, Co. Kilkenny for her services while in Cumann na mBan.

* Cumann na mBan Service Medal, with ribbon.
* Cumann na mBan miniature Service Medal with ribbon.

The entire attractively mounted with some reproduction photographs, including some group photographs showing Quinn in action, with his colleagues and his wedding photograph showing Captain P. Quinn, and his wife Pearle Mackey, and also his best man and civil war colleague Michael O’Carroll of Graig. Comp. 5th Batt. Captain Padraig Quinn, Graignamanagh, was a member of Na-Fianna Eireann. He joined the Irish Volunteers on its incaption. He went onto be an active member of Sinn Fein, and then joined A Company Fifth Batt. Kilkenny Brigade I.R.A. when the Fifth Batt. set up a Flying Column he was one of the first to join and was involved in all its major operations including the Coolbawn & Uskerty Ambushes. On the formation of the National Army in 1922, he joined with the rank of Captain, and became O.C. C’company 47th Battalion Waterford Command.
In c. 1923 he married Miss Pearle Mackey of Gowran, when his best man was Michael O’Carroll, O.C. Graig Comp. 5th Batt. and Flying Column member, who fought with him at Coolbawn and Uskerty Ambushes.

Then in 1936 when Gen. Eoin O’Duffy organised for an Irish Brigade to fight in the Spanish Civil War, he joined, and experienced action for most of the war. On a later visit back to Spain, together with his comrades Peter Cleary and Seomas O’Cuinneaghan, 1948, they received an audience with the Spanish leader Gen. Franco, and he was presented with the extremely rare gilt and enamel cross “Al Merito Civile”. Captain Padraig Quinn died on 23 August, 1980.

* A unique and highly important historical collection. (1)

Lot 1194/0217

THE PAPERS OF LORD MONTEAGLE OF BRANDON

The Spring Rice family played an important role in Irish history through the 19th and into the early 20th century.
The head of the family, created Lord Monteagle of Brandon in 1839, was the owner of a considerable landed estate in Cos. Limerick and Kerry, based on the family seat at Mount Trenchard near Foynes. In 1883 this comprised nearly nine thousand acres and was worth over £6000 a year. The Spring Rices were conscientious landlords, with a particularly fine humanitarian record during the Great Famine.
The first Lord was active in Irish and British politics and was Chancellor of the Exchequer during the 1830s. The second Lord was a founder of the co-operative movement and an able assistant to Sir Horace Plunkett. His daughter Mary Spring Rice was an ardent nationalist and crewed on Erskine Childers’s yacht the Asgard that smuggled guns into Howth for the Irish Volunteers in 1914.
The Spring Rices were also connected by marriage to a number of prominent families whose documents feature in this collection. In particular, Mary Spring Rice (sister of the first Lord Monteagle) married the son of William Smith O’Brien the nationalist leader and was mother of the artist Dermod O’Brien; Theodosia, another sister, married the gifted writer and public servant Sir Henry Taylor; and the second Lord Monteagle married Elizabeth Butcher, daughter of the Bishop of Meath and sister of the Unionist politician Lord Danesfort.
Above all, there were no fewer than five intermarriages between the Spring Rices and the Marshall family of Leeds, who made a fortune from their flax mills and built a number of fine houses in the Lake District. Here they were visited by some important literary figures, notably Charles Dodgson (“Lewis Carroll”) and Tennyson in 1857.

The papers in this collection fall into three sections – letters, legal papers, and the contents of a deed-box.

There are no fewer than 856 letters, all of a personal nature and mostly written in the 1860s and 1870s to Alice Spring Rice by her siblings and cousins. Their importance lies in the wealth of intimate material they provide on the daily lives of the correspondents, particularly the ladies. The children of Victorian upper-class families were isolated from the communities in which they lived and developed an intimacy with each other which involved the use of private nicknames and allusions which they alone understood. This often continued into adulthood, when careers (for the boys) and marriage or spinsterhood (for the girls) drove them apart – hence the abundance of letters between them, full of news, humour, teasings, and secret allusions.
The collection of Spring Rice letters is unusually large and provides a special opportunity to look into the private lives and relationships of one closely interknit family group. In particular, about one-third of the letters were written by Julia Marshall, with a few by her brothers Victor and James, from their homes at Headingley in Leeds and Monk Coniston in the Lake District. Monk Coniston was the home created by their father James Garth Marshall, and the surrounding landscape – saved for the National Trust by Beatrix Potter – is today one of the most important of the Trust’s properties in the north of England.

The legal and administrative papers comprise marriage settlements, wills, and associated papers of the successive Lords Monteagle and of the poet Sir Henry Taylor and the politician Lord Danesfort.

The deed-box contains a large number of legal papers, some letters, and a few miscellaneous items from the time of Stephen Edward Rice (d. 1831) and his son Thomas, the first Lord Monteagle. The more significant items are:
· Genealogical notes on the Rice family of co. Kerry.
· 24 letters on estate matters to Rice from his agent in co. Limerick, 1802-1803.
· Valuation of the contents of S.E. Rice’s house in Dublin, 1804.
· 150 letters on political matters from Monteagle to Matthew Barrington in Dublin, 1817-1822.
Together with an interesting Small File of Papers relating to Mary Spring Rice, who sailed on board “The Asguard,” for the Howth Gun-Running.
Included are a copy of her Will, Documents relating to property owned by her, details re income tax succession tax, banking details, cheque book some bill heads for purchases and details and correspondencde concerning her funeral, expences, advertisements, etc; and collection of original correspondence, letters signed by Thomas Spring Rice, Monteagle, etc.

A detailed report on the contents of this collection is available upon request. (1)

Lot 1200/0217

Sheares (John, United Irishman) An Autograph Letter signed, dated Tuesday 11th July 1798, three days before he was hanged for treason at Newgate Prison with his brother Henry, cotnaining his last wishes for his family.
‘Thou sacred Power whatever be thy name or nature who has created me the frail thing I am, hear the arden’t Prayer of the Creature about to enter thy Presence. if the Divine Providence can be affected by mortal application. Hear and Grant I beseech thee the last wishes of an hear that ever dreaded thy Goodness. Let Peace and Happiness once more visit the bosoms of my beloved Family, let a Mild Grief succeed the Miseries they have endured and when the last debt is Paid to the dust of him who caused them let their ensuin Days glide on in unity and Domestic Happiness. Lighten the Afflictions of my beloved Mother, to Henry and his excellent wie grant undisturbed enjoyment to their mutual Love..
Adieu my Julia my light is just out, to me the approach of darkness is like that of Death, since both alike require I should say farewell, my dear Family, farewell forever.’ With a good signature. On a single quarto sheet, writen one side only, somewhat foxed, a few minor tears, small piecde missing at bottom (no loss of text).
A historic document, generally in good condition, as a m/ss., w.a.f.
John Sheares and his brother Henry were executed for treason, after they were betraye dby an informer. They had developed Republican sympathies durin a visit to relations in France. (1)

Lot 1201/0217

Waterford Famine Relief
An oblong folio Album containing the records of the Relief Committee, Reiske Electoral Division, Waterford Union, 1847, manuscript entries on printed forms, distinguishing between ‘Helpless Poor’ (52 cases) and ‘Able-Bodied Poor’ (264 cases listed).
The entries give name, wife’s name if any, residence, marital status, whether disabled, date relief allowed (generally April or May 1847), and numbers of rations delivered daily. The ‘Observations’ column on right includes references such as ‘Not Destitute,’ ‘Gone to America,’ ‘Dead,’ ‘Employed’, ‘Left his wife,’ etc.
In excellent condition, a valuable and poignant historical record, in the original drab boards with leather spine (partly perished but holding.) 1847 was the worst year of the Famine.

Lot 1202/0217

Newspaper: The Police Gazette – Hue -And-Cry, two issues, date February 8th, 1853, and July 14th, 1857, each 4pps, folded with some wear, as newspapers, w.a.f. (2)
* The papers are pre-Royal Irish Constabulary, the 1857 issue covers the “deserters” from the British Army in Ireland.

Lot 1203/0217

Ephemera;: Co. Galway Oglaigh na hEireann, two Official issued Day Passes from H.Q. Regular Forces – Galway Command, datin Auust 14th, 1922 and August 28th 1922 to a Mr. Dodd, travelling to Tuam and Back, signed by Commdt. Sean Broderick, with oficial dispatch stamp on reverse, wtih a contemporary note signed by Dodd, stating – Passes – Owing to cut roads and damaged bridges,” Unusual and Scarce. (2)

Lot 1204/0217

Trial of Richard Burke (1862)

An interesting Collection of Documents concerning the Trial and Conviction of Richard Burke, for 12 years Clerk of the Waterford Poor Law Union, on a charge of murdering his wie by the use of strychnine.
Includes two A.L.S. from Burke in Clonmel Gaol to R. Dobbyn of Waterford, June 1862, askin him for assistance with his defence; two A.L.S. from his solicitor John Prendergast of Clonmel (historian o the Cromwellian Settelement) mainly appealing for funds for the defence; a six pae legal opinion, unsigned, pointing to weaknesses in the case against Burke; a drat statement from ‘Iadies residing in the City of Waterford’ appealin for clemency; and a draft Memorial form ‘ the undersigned Magistrates, Clergy, Medical Doctors and Solictors and Gentry of the County and City of Waterford’ also appealin for clemency as recommended by the Jury, dated 7 August 1862, signed (only) by Robert Dobbyn. ‘We all expect Mercy and should ask such for others.’
The result of these representations is not recorded. As a collection, w.a.f. (1)

Lot 1205/0217

Ephmera; 1798 [United irishmen] an oblong printed Card for Membership to the Society of United irishmen of Dublin, certifying Theobald Wolfe Tone, with ptd. m/ss signatures of N. Tandy (Secretary) and Division General – Fitzgerald, with Society emblem, fold mark, scarce and unusual. (1)

Lot 1206/0217

O’Leary (John) 1830 – 1907, Fenian. An important collection of 25 Autograph signed Letters, Notes and Cards, 1895-1904, to the London-based publisher Edmund Downey, mostly concerning publication of O’Leary’s memoirs Recollections of Fenians and Fenianism (1896), some with related envelopes, and with two other related leters, one from T.P. O’Connor to O’Leary, 24.10.1895, and one from O’Leary to Downey’s associte Mr. Manin (probably an asistant), 21.2.96. The coreespondence mostly in very good condition (one letter torn without lose), mostly dated and appraently complete or nearly so, apparently unpublished.
Born in Tipperary town in 1830, O’Leary inherited money from his father, and was never obliged to work for a living. he went to Dublin to study law in 1847, and becam einvolved with the Young Irelanders. He returned to Tipperary in 1848 to join the abortive rising there, was arrested briefly, studied medicine in Cork and Dublin, went to Paris in 1855, and in 1858 returned to Dublin where he was recruited by James Stephens to join the I.R.B. In 1863 he became editor of the new Fenian newspaper The Irish People. In 1865 he was arrested in a round-up of leading Fenians, and was sentenced to 20 years for treason-felony. Conditionally released in 1871, he went to live in Paris, where he again became IRB Treasurer.
In 1885 O’Leary returned to Dublin, and took up residence in Leinster Rd. with his sister the poet Ellen O’Leary. By now he was regarded as a Republican father-figure, and he had considerable influence on the young W.B. Yeats, to whom he lent books and money and gave literary advice. He may have introduced Yeats to the I.R.B., and it appears that Yeats and Maud Gonne may first have met at O’Leary’s home, where John Butler Yeats was workin on his portrait of O’Leary. ‘Beautiful lofty thins, O’Leary’s noble head..’
The present correspondence is mainly concerned with publication of O’Leary’s Recollections (issued by Downey & Co. in 1896), with much detail on newspaper serialisation, proofs, corrections, illustrations, with occasional sharp commentson O’Leary’s former colleagues, review copies and soon. O’Leary also offers advice about a series of republications ofclassic Irish novels which downey was considering; on 8.5.95 (the first letter) he ures him to consider Florence McCarthy, (Grifin’s) The Collegians and (Carleton’s) Fearadougha The Miser, which he describes as ‘the best novel of (on the wole bad as he is at times) the best Irish novelist, or at least far the most “Irish” in the good sense.’ He intends to include photoraphs of his riends Luby ad Kickham (12.6.95) in his book, but says John Devoy has brains, but has ‘no business in my book’ (13.3.96). Commenting on something in Mr. Mannin’s paper, he says that ‘Rossa had next to no meaning, and his admirers had if possible less, and Kavanagh is a vicious fool, or perhaps rather something else…’
An important letter dated 3.7.96 outlines difficulties over the terms of publication. ‘ I am as clear as I can be about any eartly thing as to the three very simple erms of our mutual agreement in your office – the copies for the subscribers, the 20 copies for mysel, and the £140 .. Surely you can scarcely think that I imagined these things.. Before you mentioned the £140, you spoke of a royalty, but I refused that arrangment.. Anyway, I most certainly cannot accept the new arrangement, which would leave me I know not where, whereas the old one.. would ive me what I make out to be about £180, which would not be, in my opinion, excessive out o the sale of 1,000 copies.’ It is not clear how this matter was resolved, but Downey did in any case proceed with publication.
On 3 Nov. 1898., O’Leary is ‘getting much more or less thankless trouble with this ’98 business…’ (O’Leary was chairman of the Dublin commemoration committee, and unveiled thefoundation stone for a memorial at Stephens Green, where W.B. Yeats – chairman of the London committee – was among the speakers.)
The A.L.S. from the Irish Party MP and journalist T.P. O’Connor (24.10.1895) was probably forwarded by O’Leary to Downey. It discusses possiblities for serialisation, but is mainly discourging in tone. ‘I am sure that your memoirs would in themselves be interestin not only to me but to thousands of Irishmen especially, but whether they can be made to interest the English public – and after all they are my chief patrons – is a different matter..’ O’Leary’s lettes make it clear that he took considerable trouble to obtain reviews of his work from people expected to be sympathetic; among those mentioned are Lionel Johnson, Mrs. (Tynan) Hinkson, Stephen Gwynn, and also D.J. O’Donoghue (who apparently prepared the index without payment).
In a signle reference to current political afairs (13.1.97), he mentions a ‘financial business’ which is ‘most promisin thing for Ireland (that) has turned up for many years’ (no further details).
A most inteesting and prolonged correspondence, which casts light on many aspects of John O’Leary’s views, his writing and his combative personality.
‘Romantic Ireland’s dead and gone, its with O’Leary in the grave’ (W.B. Yeats, September 1913).
Edmund Downey was born in Waterford in 1856, where his father ran a shipping business. He went to London about 1880 where he established himself as a publisher and a writer. Aupporter of Parnell, he returned to Waterford in 1906, bouth the Waterford News and ater 1916 became a prominent Sin Fein supporter and friend of Eamon de Valera.
As a collection. (1)

Lot 1207/0217

Bond: 1865-67 (Fenian Rising) An Irish Republic Five Dollar Bill, issued by The Continental Bank Note Co., New York, signed by John O’Mahony, vignette profile of Wolfe Tone, dated March 17h, 1866, engraved around the rim with Provincial and Country names, approx. 9cms x 22cms, worn. Scarce. (1)

Lot 1208/0217

Bond: 1865-67 (Fenian Rising] This National Bond – Repbulic of Ireland, Ten Dollar Bill, issued by The Continental Bank, New York, signed by O’Sullivan and Scanlan, with vignette portraits of Davids & Wolfe Tone, Nos. 6264 – 4264, approx. 11cms x 22cms, creased and worn, otherwise fine. Scarce. (1)

Lot 1209/0217

Bond: 1865-67 [Fenian Rising] This National Bond – Republic of Ireland, Twenty Dollar Bill, issued by The Continental Bank, New York, signed by O’ullivan and Scanlan, with vignettes portraits of Barry & Montgomery, No’s 647-1647, approx. 12cms x 22.5cms, creased and worn, otherwise fine. Scarce. (1)