14 December 2010 - Rare Book Sale

#0210

Lot 487/0210

SOLD Hammer price €180

Belfast Natural History and Philosophical Society: A small archive including manuscript Rules of the Society, adopted Dec. 1846, a printed Bill to exempt the premises of Scientific Societies from rates, 1843; a manuscript legal document concerning the Society’s affairs, 1868 and a legal opinion thereon, also some other letters and documents relating to the York Street Flax Spinning Co., Belfast. An interesting lot, needs further study. As an Archive, w.a.f. (1)

Lot 488/0210

Manuscript Journal: A manuscript notebook, c. 1922 – 1923, containing mostly legal notes etc., but some daily notes, all in pencil, including one which mentions ‘Wonton destruction of houses.’ Probably a student, studying at the start of the Irish Free State. As a m/ss., w.a.f. Interesting, would benefit from further study. (1)

Lot 489/0210

Manuscript: Commonplace Book – A curious manuscript Commonlace Book entitled Collectanea Curiosa by M.S. off Rome – June 6, 1817, sm. 8vo approx. 48pp., 1817 – 1841, limp mor. covers.
* Contains (a) ‘An Account of Lady Glenorchies Dream,’ as recounted by Dr. Hamilton, 6pp; (b) ‘Charctere de M. Manuel’ (in French), 8pp dated 1841; (c) ‘Sermon preche par M. Aberken au Capitol, Rome Jan 1841 (in French), 32pp. As a m/ss., w.a.f. (1)

Lot 490/0210

SOLD Hammer price €380

Co. Wexford: A most interesting manuscript compilation of unusual histories and archaeological essays and articles on subjects including Clonmines Abbey, Duncannon Fort, Dunbrody Abbey, Enniscorthy Castle, Hook Tower, Fethard Castle, Bargy Ferns & other Castles, St. Mary’s Wexford, etc., notes of genealogical interest and also some transcribed extracts from relevant historical documents, Royal Patents, Courts of Chancery, etc., etc., containing approx. 200pp in a very clear hand, fully indexed at end, probably mid to late 19th Century, in a small quarto notebook, mor. spine worn. As a manuscript, w.a.f. (1)

Lot 491/0210

Manuscript Notebook: Raynard (Wm.) A manuscript notebook dated 1812, containing principles and examples in geometry and mechanics, with a wide selection of worked examples from the work of masons, carpenters and joiners, painters glaziers, pavers, plumbers and other craftsmen, with diagrams and extensive calculations; also with a section on projectiles (balls & shells), estimation of distance by velocity of sound, etc. This appears to be an instructor’s handbook, rather than student’s notes, with the examples chose to reflect problems encountered by craft apprentices and by soldiers. It might well have been used in an establishment like the Hibernian Military School in Dublin. In a small 4to mor. backed notebook with signature of Wm. Raynard inside front cover, approx. 100 p., laid paper with watermark of John Hayes, 1810. As a m/ss., w.a.f. An interesting document. (1)

Lot 492/0210

SOLD Hammer price €260

[Bianconi (Charles)] A Manuscript ledge, from ‘The House of the Rising Sun,’ an hostelry – public house near Mullinavat, Co. Kilkenny, for 1852 – 1871, then a staging depot for Bianconi’s Long Cars. It includes entries for the hire of cars, drays, horses, etc., etc., as well as sales of beer, porter & whiskey. With various named accounts and many further notes, approx. 400 pp. tall narrow ledger, calf backed boards, worn. As a m/ss., w.a.f.
Provenance: From the House of the Rising Sun Public House, Mullinavat.

Lot 493/0210

SOLD Hammer price €510

Maurice Lenihan’s Copy
Ferrar (John) The History of the City of Limerick, 12mo Limerick 1767. First Edn., list of subs., XX, 155pp. with m/ss annots thro.-out, 2 plts., & 1 fold. at end (torn), and other later m/ss notes at end, orig. calf upr. cover detached. As an association copy, w.a.f. V. Rare.
* A 10 line m/ss note by Maurice Lenihan, and signed by him 1865, on front loose blank. (1)

Lot 494/0210

SOLD Hammer price €7500

Exquisite Copy of a True Rarity – Tripperariensis
With the Excessively Rare Part III
Carve (Thomas) [Carew], Itinerarium R.D. Thomae Carve Tripperariensis, Sacellanimaioris … cum Historia facti Butleri, Gordon, Lesly & Aliorum… . 12mo Mainz (Nicholaus Heyli) 1639. In Three Parts. Part III 1646. All First Edns., 3 hf. title,s lg. fold. plt. end of Part III, gauffered gilt edges, recent full gilt tooled mor., tooled gilt past downs, etc. by J. Mackenzie of London. an exquisite copy, fine in every way.
* A true rarity in First Edition. The Third Part which appeared some years later than the first two, is of such historic rarity that Bernard Quartich, the famous 19th Century English bookseller felt compelled to reprint the entire work. See Sweeney 850. (1)

Lot 495/0210

SOLD Hammer price €90

Cuala Press: Attractive pair of original hand coloured Prints, one with design after Elizabeth Corbet Yeats, and printed verse by A.E. [George Russell] & the others with verse by Emily Lawless, and a view of Glendalough, framed. (2)

Lot 496/0210

“The Boys,”
Mac Liamoir (Michael) & Edwards (Hilton) A very good original photograph by Bill Doyle of Mac Liamoir and Edwards in full winter attire, Russian hats, etc., taken in 1974 on Stephens Green & signed by Bill Doyle, approx. 20cms x 25cms framed. As a photo, w.a.f. (1)

Lot 497/0210

SOLD Hammer price €190

Dolmen Press: Kerrigan (Anthony) The August Watch, Broadside poem, 18 lines, commencing ‘New, this August 16, a gold / antique watch will serve to vouch for this poem…,# dated at foot August 16, 1964. Privately printed at Dolmen Press, Dublin 1964. Title and colophon printed in red, single sheet approx. 7 1/2″ x 5 1/2″ framed and glazed.
* A. Kerrigan, an American – Irish poet lived in Dublin in 1960. He published a trade collection with Dolmen and some privately printed items. This one probable a handful of copies were printed privately to mark some personal occasion or anniversary. Rare. (1)

Lot 498/0210

SOLD Hammer price €460

O’Flaherty (Liam) A curios autograph note, signed ‘Liam’, addressed to Albert Sacks, one page undated [c. 1932], composed in pastiche of Joycean monologue – ‘There you are? Well! What about it? Damned if I am. However: Work it up. See? Know what I mean? Drop O’Scotch, Ulysses! Orwell for the Derby.’
* There must be a reason for the Joycean flavour of O’Flaherty’s note. A possible explanation is that it accompanied a gift of a copy of Ulysses. Joyce’s evocation of contemporary Dublin through the eyes of the wondering Jew, Leopold Bloom. Albert Sack or Sacks was the author of a guide to Early American Furniture, and evidently of Jewish extraction (his fathers name was Israel.) Orwell was favourite for the Epsom Derby of 1932, but was unplaced. Mounted, framed and glazed with a reproduction photograph of O’Flaherty. (1)

Lot 499/0210

SOLD Hammer price €180

Wilde Reviews Yeats
Wilde (Oscar),ed. The Woman’s World, issues for Nov. 1888 & February 1889, 4to with orig. ptd. wrappers. In the Feb. issue the Editor’s Literary Notes include a review of Mr. W.B. Yeats’ ‘Charming little book’ “Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry,” (p.221). Other items include Lady Wilde on Irish Peasant Tales, Mrs. Oscar Wilde on Muffs and the Editor (Wilde) on ‘A Fascinating Book’ (“A History of Embroidery and Lace”) In orig. condition, scarce thing. As periodicals, w.a.f. (2)

Lot 500/0210

Shaw (Geo. Bernard) Common Sense About The War, Supplement to the New Statesman, 14 Nov. 1914, lg. folio, stapled, later hand lettered wrappers. First Edn., scarce. Laurence A130a.
* A typically combative essay, arguing both as an Irishman and as an English citizen, and denouncing Junkers of all nationalities. (1)

Lot 501/0210

Moore (Thomas) Irish poet. An intersting autograph signed letter dated Dec. 1st, 1843, headed ‘Private’ from Sloperton, Chippenham, to an unnamed person who sent him a copy of the Liverpool Gazette with a favrouable review of his poems, thanking him fulsomely; with an eight page manuscript transcript in a contemporary hand of letters exchanged between the critic J.W. Croker and Moore, about changes in Moore’s early poems; two letters from Croker to Moore and two from Moore to Croker, Feb. – March 1823. An interesting correspondence. As m/ss, w.a.f. (1)

Lot 502/0210

SOLD Hammer price €600

Stoker (Bram.) An autograph signed letter on Lyceum Theatre notepaper, 1pp. dated 23..395, to a Mr. Harmer, stating that Mr. (Henry) Irving agrees to terms ‘as in your letter of 19th, with you accounting for all copies sold to you … less commission 10% of course this does not apply to copies supplied to us or sent to the press by you.’ With a hurried signature,’Bram Stoker / at Lyceum.’ Scarce.
* Bram Stoker, author of ‘Dracula’ and other works, was personal secretary to the great actor Sir Henry Irving from 1878 until Irvings death in 1905.

Lot 503/0210

SOLD Hammer price €220

Russell (George) ‘A.E.’ A typescript transcript, apparently contemporary, of a long letter from Russell at the ‘Irish Homestead’ to Kathleen Kyle, replying to a letter from her quering his attitude to Ulster Unionism, and going into considerable detail about his views on Unionism, Nationalism, etc., 3pp. closely typed. A most interesting letter, evidently authentic. ‘The Press is the Devil. I know it well. The Editors rarely write what they believe but what they must write to keep their posts… Beware of the Press.’ Most interesting item. (1)

Lot 504/0210

SOLD Hammer price €170

Colum (Padraic) poet. Autograph letter, signed, on headed notepaper of ‘The Panhellenic,’ N. York, 1934, with envelope to F.R. Higgins in Dublin, returning a paper about the Harmsworth Prize, and asking him to send a poem which he (Colum) could place in New York, with a good signature; and with an unrelatd autograph note on card from Colum, to (Dr.) Bethel Solomons, 1911, arranging to coll. As m/ss, w.a.f., a lot.
* Manuscript material by Colum is scrace. (1)

Lot 505/0210

SOLD Hammer price €110

Mac Liammoir (Michael) actor & artist. A typed signed letter on Dublin Gate Theatre notepaper, 1pp. dated March 1st, 1968, to Alphonsus Sweeney evidently a newphew of the writer Seamus O’Kelly, agreeing to become ‘a patron of your Society’, remembers illustrating ‘two of your uncle’s books,’ and asks where he might find a copy of one of them. With his usual flamboyant signature. As m/ss., w.a.f. (1)

Lot 506/0210

SOLD Hammer price €140

Campbell (Joseph) School of Irish Studies, N. York. A manuscript transcription of Thomas MAc Donagh’s translation of ‘The Yellow Bittern’ (from the Irish of Cathal Buidhe mac Giolla Gunna), four verses, 2pp., signed by Campbell and dated 1928; with an original manuscript stage design for ‘The Yellow Bittern’ (a play based on the poem) in Campbell’s hand, attached to a leaf signed by him and dated 1927. As a m/ss., w.a.f. (2)