26 September 2012 - Rare Books & Collectors' Specialist Sale
#0220
Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny
26 September 2012 - Rare Books & Collectors' Specialist Sale
#0220
All content Copyright © Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers
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Lot 1114/0220
French Fire Service Officer’s brass Helmet 1814 – 1824, an officer’s brass fire Helmet issued during the reign of Louis XVIII, King of France 1814 – 1824. It has a large helmet-plate bearing the French Imperial Eagle and the inscription ‘Sapeurs-Pompiers de Ville Blevin,’ (Fire Brigade of the Town of Blevin). Over the helmet plate is a small ‘Flaming Grenade’ device indicating its French Army origins. On the movable visor (pulled down during fire fighting to protect the eyes) are embossed crossed fire-axes and oak-leaves. The engraved high ‘comb’ has a black horsehair roll (‘chenille’), while the left side of the helmet is fitted with plume holder and red feather hackle-plume. It is complete with leather headliner and scaled chin-straps (‘jugulaire a escailles’). A truly magnificent example of an ultra-rare helmet. (1)
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Lot 1115/0220
A French Fire Service Senior Officer’s brass Helmet 1830 – 1848, a beautiful and exceptional example of a French Fire Service officer’s brass helmet from the reign of the so-called ‘Citizen King,’ Louis-Philippe, who ruled from 1830-1848. The large brass helmet – plate bears the Napoleonic Imperial Eagle standing on the Globe of the World from which lightning bolts emit. Beneath, on the visor, is a pair of fire fighter’s axes, symbolic of the Fire Service. On the helmet finial is embossed a small ‘Flaming Grenade’ indicating the French Fire service’s connections with the Army. The left side of the helmet is fitted with a plume-holder (‘porte-plumet’) and a red feather plume. The embossed comb is fitted with magnificent roll made of bearskin. (1)
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Lot 1116/0220
A French Fire Service Officer’s brass Helmet 1855, Napoleon III, nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, was the last monarch of France, ruling from 1852 – 1870. During his reign a new-style of Fire Service Helmet was introduced, being known as the ‘Model 1855’. This model saw the demise of the magnificent (but totally impractical) comb-rolls of horsehair and bearskin, but retained the side feather hackle to signify officers. This example bears a helmet-plate on which is engraved the ‘Flaming Grenade’ device surrounded by a wreath of acanthus and oak leaves, crossed fire-fighters’ axes, and the inscription ‘Srs-Pompiers de Vouziers’ (Vouziers Fire Brigade). This high comb is embossed with a ‘soldier’s course’ and the left side bears a plume-holder (‘porte plumet’) and a red feather hackle. It is complete with leather headliner and brass chin strap (‘jugulaires’). In excellent condition. (1)
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Lot 1117/0220
A French Fire Officer’s brass Helmet 1870; in September 1870 the Third Republic was proclaimed after the defeat of Napoleon III at Sedan. The new government continued resistance to the Germans, which then laid siege to Paris To defend Paris, the National Guard was mobilized. This is a good example of a post-Imperial French Fire Service Helmet. Devoid of earlier embellishments such as feather plumes,horsehair rolls, etc., it nevertheless is a most desirable and attractive artefact typical of the period. It has a large brass ‘Flaming Genade’ helmet plate with the inscription ‘Sps – Pompiers de Marigny’ (Marigny Fire-Brigade), leather headliner and chin scales (‘jugulaires’) The high brass comb has a small ‘Flaming Grenade’ device on its finial. Around the crown is a brass band of oak-leaves. (N.B. Marigny is a municipality in the Lower Normandy region of NW France). (1)
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Lot 1118/0220
Helmet: W.W.2 – Irish, Drogheda Fire Brigade, (c. 1940), in typical shape and form, with a painted gold laurel at front, leather head piece, with chin strap, as a helmet, w.a.f. (1)
* Worn when Brigade went to Belfast to fight Blitz Fires April 1941.More details › -
Lot 1119/0220
Helmets: Communist Era, Fire Brigade, a collection of seven caps, visors and helmets from the 1960’s / 70’s Communist Era including: Warsaw Fire Brigade Visor Cap, c. 1960’s, East Berlin Fire Officer’s Winter Cap; Czechslovakina Prague Fire Brigade (Model No. IV – 1975); Pand / Warsaw Fire Brigade – 1960, and others, as a collection of helmets, w.a.f. (7)
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Lot 1120/0220
Helmets: European Fire Service, a collection of 8 Caps, Visors and hard Helmets form 1940’s – 80’s to include;
Dutch Fire Officers Visor Cap;
Cologne Fire Brigade (West Germany) Visor Cap 1970’s, and similar from 1980’s (2);
Netherlands Fire Service Helmet (1970’s);
Switzerland Fire Service Helmet (1950’s);
Switzerland Electrician Fire Brigade Helmet 1970’s);
Switzerland (Zurich) Fire Brigade 1948, and one other as a collection of Helmets,w.a.f. (8)More details › -
Lot 1121/0220
“The D-Day Landing Helmet”
Helmet: W.W.2 (British Army), a .44 pattern steel Helmet, with comfort inset and elasticated chin strap, fine example. (1)
* This pattern Helmet saw action at first in the 1944 D-Day landings at Normandy. (1)More details › -
Lot 1122/0220
Helmet: Second Reich (1871), Fire Helmet, a Feldberg Volunteer (F.B.) Black Forest Helmet with brass rim and top, an early example of German Fire Helmet, as is, w.a.f. (1)
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Lot 1123/0220
A SS (Nazi) Officer’s Dagger
Nazi: Militaria: [Schutzstaffel] A Nazi Officer’s Dress Dagger, the steel blade inscribed Meine Ihre Heist Treue, (My Honour Is Loyalty), the opposite side inscribed (RZM) in a circular stamp and numbers M7/14, the plastic handle with a silver mounted eagle on a swatzika, and a “SS” emblem, in steel scabbard with silvered mounts, attractive and good example. (1)More details › -
Lot 1124/0220
World War 2: Blundell (H. Cdr.) a R.A.F. (Royal Air Force) issue Pilots Helmet, the fibre-glass frame with glass protectors and electronic mouth command piece by M.S.A. Co. Ltd., in original leather carry case. Unusual & Scarce. (1)
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Lot 1125/0220
Irish Army: a green cloth Beret with brass buttons, and Oglaig na hEireann badge, good clean example. (1)
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Lot 1126/0220
Irish Army: Congo – an unusual Dagger, the steel blade crudely made with amateur carving, the leather scabbard with African design and rope thread (some repair), the handle with steel base, and snake-skin handle, reputed to have been brought back after the Congo War. Unusual and Scarce. (1)
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Lot 1127/0220
Irish Army: The Congo, a collection of African Artefact’s to include a carved Statue of a large breasted Woman (African Love Goddess) with a engraved necklace of a heart, and bone inlay, approx. 38cms h; a pair of miniature decorative Shields with crossed weapons in goat skin. Unusual and attractive, as a lot., w.a.f. (3)
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Lot 1128/0220
Important Motor-Cycling Collection
Motor-Cycling: Payne (Lt. A.C.) 1920’s an attractive collection of Medals, Cigarette Cases, Ashtrays, Hip-Flasks and a steel and leather inscribed Case, to include: the Defence Medal issued for W.W.2 – 1939 – 45, with original ribbon in original posted box; a 9ct gold shield shaped Medal inscribed Reliability Trial 22 April 1922 Best Performance A.C. Payne; also some other important Presentation Medals issued to A.C. Payne, for Solo Races, Team Trials, Distance Races, Wren Trophy, Colmore Cup Trial, an important Collection. (1)More details › -
Lot 1129/0220
Textiles & Attire (Men’s Wear), a most unusual collection of catalogues to include designs for club tie-colours for Universities, Colleges and Sports Clubs, each strip/design mounted, numbered and detailed in two bound volumes; together with a hat-stretcher, letter puncher, with two boxes of associated material; a framed set of Cigarette Cards depicting Club Colours, a most unusual and attractive collection, as a lot, w.a.f. (1)
Provenance: Messrs Gibson Price, Suffolk Street, Dublin.More details › -
Lot 1135/0220
Republican: Monteith (Rbt.) Casement’s Last Adventure, 8vo, D. 1953; Singleton-Gates (P.) The Black Diaries, 8vo L. 1959, Ltd. Edn. No. 316 (2000) errata; Dillon (G. Plunkett) All In the Blood, D. 2006, illus; Gleeson (J.) Bloody Sunday, 8vo D. 1963, illus., paperback; Redmond-Howard (L.G.) Six Days of the Irish Republic, 8vo D. 1916, paperback; Donnelly (Mary)comp. The Last Post, 8vo illus., ptd. wrappers, as a lot, w.a.f. (6)
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Lot 1136/0220
Signed by The Author
Woodham-Smith (C.) The Great Hunger, Ireland 1845-9, 8vo, L. 1962 (Second Impression), signed by the Author on t.p., together with a typescript letter signed and dated 18.1.1963 from the Author to Miss Toibin (relating to an original Gaelic Poem), cloth & d.j. (2)More details › -
Lot 1137/0220
G.A.A. – O’Maolfaibhail (Art) Caman 2,000 Years of Hurling in Ireland, 8vo Dundalk 1973, illus., cloth & d.j.; De Burca (M.) The G.A.A. – A History, 8vo D. 1980, cloth & d.j., clean copies. (2)
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Lot 1138/0220
G.A.A.: Annual – A Season of Sunday’s; each oblong 4to D. (Sports file) 1997 – 2011, 16 vols. (complete), illus. & adverts (including Special Olympic Edition 2003), all cloth & d.j. Good clean set. (16)
* A wonderful pictorial account of the G.A.A. in recent years.More details ›