24 April 2012 - Rare Book Sale

#0217

Lot 1292/0217

Michael Collins & Roger Casement Typescripts

Neeson (Eoin) A 323 page typescript, heavily edited and amended, of a book on the life of Michael Collins, unpublished, circa 1990.

This work was not envisaged by Neeson as an enlarged and updated edition of his The Life and Death of Michael Collins, 1968, but in effect a new book with a special focus on both “the fatal ambush at Beal na mBlath” and “Collins’ intent and motivation.” He sought …” to provide, in as much detail as possible, an account of the ambush so as to clarify much that was previously obscure or fudged….”

Together with two large files with other drafts, material and correspondence relating to the subject;
Roger Casement: Two folders of material relating to Roger Casement and, especially, the Diaries Controversy: newspaper articles and correspondence, typescripts of talks, photo-copies of original British Government papers. Compiled by Eoin Neeson.
Hugh O’Neill: A manuscript and typescript of an unpublished novel about Hugh O’Neill.
Eoin Neeson (as Desmond O’Neill) Shalom. Typescript (423 pages) of an unpublished thriller set in Dublin, London, New York, Cairo. Some thirty years earlier, in 1958, Gollancz published – also as Desmond O’Neill – Life Has No Price. With God’s Crucible. Photocopy typescript of a play (130 pages).
Eoin Neeson Ireland’s History. Edited typescript. also Irish Lives. (Hugh O’Neill, Typescript. also Two radio plays: Matricide and Chiaroscuro. Typescript.
As an archive/ collection, w.a.f. (1)

Lot 1293/0217

Artefact: A brass Wall Sign, inscribed “Passport Office – British Embassy,” approx. 5 1/2″ x 12 1/”, the four corners pierced.
Reputed to have been removed from The British Embassy in 1972 after being destroyed by fire, in retaliation to “Bloody Sunday,” as an artefact, w.a.f. (1)

Lot 1294/0217

Prisoners de Guerre

Flag: [Prisoners of War] c. 1920’s. A blue, white and red French vertical length Flag, with gold bullion tassles on top and bottom, and embroidered with text – “RF – Association Des Prisonniers De Guerre, De la Haute Garonne,” one side, tunring to show “R.F. – Section Cartonate De Muret,” silk and coton, approx. 94cms x 96cms. Unusual and Scarce. (1)

Lot 1295/0217

Early Irish Tri-Colour Flag

Tri-Colour Flag: A large linen tri-colour Flag, machine stitched panels, approx. 86cms x 224cms (34″ x 88″) some stains, but generally in good order. Reputed to be Civil War Period.
An exceptional example of a rare relic from the period of turmoil in Irish History. (1)

Lot 1296/0217

Irish Brigade Flag (Spain 1936-37)

A large Flag or Banner used by a unit of General O’Duffy’s irish Brigade in Spain, 1936-37, machine stitched in panels with a diagonal red cross on blue round, approx. 65″ x 39″ (166cms x 99cms), a few stains, some minor damae but generally in very good condition.
Provenance: Capt. Padraig Quinn of Gowran, Co. Kilkenny, commanding officer of “C” Company in O’Duffy’s Brigade.
Gen. O’Duffy’s Brigade includin about 600 irishmen fought on the side of the Spanish insurgents led by Gen. Franco, 1936 – 37. A very scarce item. (1)

Lot 1297/0217

Flag: I.N.V. (Irish National Volunteers) c. 1910’s. A monumental Flag hand-sewn in three parts in poplin with double sided print of “Maid of Eireann” approx. 170cms x 260cms, with lined flag staff holder. Unusual & Scarce. (1)
* Possibly used during a routine inspection by John Redmond of the Irish National Volunteers.

Lot 1298/0217

Flag: Eucharistic Congress 1932, a vertical shaped Flag / Banner, used during the Congress in Dublin 1932, the blue poplin flag with printed yellow text, and flag pole support approx. 178cms x 92cms, together with two related enamel Badges. Good and clean examples. (3)

Lot 1299/0217

Military: Silk Banner, The Royal Irish Rifles – Quis Separabit, an atractive hanging, approx. 62cms x 45cms, the central crest worked in yellow and gold threads, the sides bordered with yellow rope like bead, decorated with shaped shamrocks at top corners and frill base, framed. (1)

Lot 1300/0217

Military: A late 18th Century Officer’s full dress shaped Sabretache, approx. 36cms x 35cms, finely worked in gold thread, the gilt crown surmounted by cross, voer Royal cipher, worn, framed.
Provenance: Kilkenny Castle. (1)

Lot 1301/0217

Military: Irish Battalion Colours. A banner of wine coloured felt franked by dark blue felt sides, with central embroidered circlet badge with motto ‘Quis Separabit 1783,’ and shamrock with three leaves crowned, frill base., approx. 48cms x 51cms, framed. (1)

Lot 1302/0217

Early 19th Century English School

Naval Crest: “Royal Coat of Arms,” A stunning original oval oil painting on canvas, attractively painted in bright colours, highlighted in gold, with a gold crown surmounted by crowned lion overcoat of arms flanked by a large unicorn and a crowned lion, on an architectural plinth, labelled “ICH DIEN” and with naval scenes to right and left, with Prince of Wales plume, shamrocks, rose & thistle underneath, approx. 76cms x 62mcs, in narrow gilt frame. (1)

Lot 1303/0217

One That Got Away!
Haughey (Charles) & Cathal O’Shannon A file of documents concerning an unrealised project for an RTE documentary film about Charles Haughey to be conducted by the journalist Cathal O’Shannon, including lengthy briefing documents, letters from O’Shannon to Haughey and to RTE ex-chairman Fred O’Donovan, lunch receipts, a signed note to O’Shannon from ‘Charlie’ on Abbeville notepaper, lists of proposed questions, etc. etc. As a collection, w.a.f. (1)
* Cathal O’Shannon v. Charlie Haughey
In May 1998 Cathal O’Shannon, acclaimed television journalist and documentary film-maker (Even the Olives are Bleeding), met with his childhood friend Fred O’Donovan, theatre impresario and ex-chairman of the RTE authority.
Cathal had a proposal to put to Fred. He felt it was the right time to approach Charles J. Haughey with a view to making a documentary, or a series of documentaries, on the life and times of the ex-Taoiseach. O’Donovan was a friend of Haughey’s and agreed that it was an important project to pursue. Later they would bring Noel Pearson, the film producer (My Left Foot) and ex-chairman of the Abbey Theatre, also a friend of Haughey’s, on board.
These are the original documents that cover the history of this project as it evolved between May 1998 and November 2003. It is a fascinating account of the evolution of an idea and the strategy pursued to persuade one of the most controversial and clever figures in recent Irish history to reveal all.

Lot 1304/0217

Artefact: White Star Line, a large Table Cloth of embossed linen, hand sewn – with a central blind design, in an ornate border with flowers and scrolls, depicting a star and text “White Star Line,” approx. 216cms x 153cms. Unusual and Scarce. (1)
* The White Star was the famous ship company behind the “Titanic” and the “Olympic”.

Lot 1305/0217

The Titanic: Bullock (Shan F.) Thomas Andrews Shipbuilder, With an Introduction by Sir H. Plunkett, 8vo D. 1912. Second Edn., port. forntis, & 5 plts., orig. cloth. Good.
* Andrews was the designer of The Titanic. (1)

Lot 1306/0217

The Titanic: Forshew (Chas. F.)ed. Poetical Tributes on Loss of the R.M.S. ‘Titanic’, April, 15, 1912. First Edn., hf. title, advert. lef at fornt, orig. cloth. Scarce & good. (1)

Lot 1307/0217

Postcard: S.S. Titanic, a picture postcard of a maiden lost leaning against a pillar, with a ringlet / wreath of flowers in hand, also depcitng the sinking ship, and the crucified Jesus sending Blessings, the base with a passage “Save, Lord, We Perish, Was their Cry, O Save us in Our Aony, Thy Word above the Storm Rose High, Peace, by Still,” by Bamforth & Co. Ltd., unsued. Good clean card. Scarce. (1)

Lot 1308/0217

The Titanic: A very good postcard with full view of the ship, The Most Appalling Disaster in Maritime History. The Star Liner ‘Titanic’ sunk on her maiden voyage off Cape Race, 15 April, 1912, Unused, with a printed panel on back giving all the details of the ship. Scarce. (1)

Lot 1309/0217

The Titanic: A scarce Postcard with a full view of the ship above the words and music of ‘Nearer My God to Thee,’ the hymn played by Bandsmen of the S.S. Titanic as she sank to her doom, 15th April, 1912. Postally used fromLondon to Kingstown, May 11th, 1912. (1)

Lot 1310/0217

Postcard: S.S. Titanic, a printed Card, with an artistic impression of the Maid of the Sea in a white cloak casting “Angels to Heaven,” from the sinking vessel (S.S. Titanic), with one verse of the text of “Nearer, My God, To Thee,” ptd. by Bauforth & Co. Ltd., unused. Good clean card. (1)

Lot 1311/0217

Postcard: S.S. Titanic, an printed card, depicting one side the ship and her statistics, also a photo of Captian Edward T. Smith, R.N.R., born 1853, died 15th April, 1912, flanked by two wreaths and ribbons with text “Collided with Iceberg – on Maiden Voyage 15th April, 1912,”, the other side with the music score and words of “Nearer My God to Thee,” (Hymn Played by Bandsmen of the S.S. Titanic” as she sank to her doom, 15th April, 1912), ptd. by National Series, unused. Good clean card. Scarce. (1)