1. Foster, Vere [Henry Louis / Lewis] / [Emily Albinia “Alba” Foster] / [Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire / Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire].

Amazing Vere Foster-Collection including Educational Materials and as a centerpiece the “Presentation Copy of “The Two Duchesses” with Autograph / Manuscript – Letter by Vere Foster to his niece, Emily Albinia “Alba” Foster. With a stunning, unpublished, two-page-letter, revealing several important details about the immediately favorable reviews and reception of the book [″in the Daily Telegraph”] and Vere Foster’s disdain about some criticism from one J.Donohue [which led to an alteration in the second edition of the book]. Vere Foster is also expecting a review to appear in the “Athenaeum” but reports “the Athenaeum has nothing yet”. Vere Foster apologizes to his niece for the delay in sending the book and explains that he had left 12 “parcels″£ with Blackie’s agent and gave instructions to send them but a few days later found they had been “untouched”. / The Two Duchesses – Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire / Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire – Family Correspondence of and Relating to Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire / Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire, Earl of Bristol (Bishop of Derby), The Countess of Bristol, Lord and Lady Byron, The Earl of Aberdeen, Sir Augustus Foster Bart, and Others, 1777-1859. [See Full list of items which are part of this collection, on our website under the topic “Libraries & Collections”].

First Edition. London / Glasgow and Dublin, Blackie & Son Limited, 1898. Octavo (15 cm x 22 cm). Pagination: Frontispiece, IX, [3], 497 pages with 18 Illustrations (including frontispiece and one Vignette of the two Duchesses opposite page 1). Hardcover / Original, publisher’s green cloth with gilt lettering on spine. Very good condition with some minor signs of wear only. This is an astonishing find for the Vere Foster Research Community and the letter gives significant insight into the importance the publication had for him, its reception as seen by Vere Foster and it solves the riddle why an altertaion was necessary for the second edition [which Vere Foster explains in a brief note to the reader at the beginning of the second edition]. The heartfelt inscription to his niece Albinia Foster is also of great importance and to our knowledge the only presentation-copy of this book on the international market for the several decades we can look back at auction records.

2. [Whyte’s School Dublin] / [Whyte, Samuel] / [Sheridan, Thomas].

Modern Education; or, An Attempt to Explain the Chief Causes and Effects of our Errours and Deficiencies in that Particular. With Practical Proposals for a Reformation. In the Course of which The Female Right to Literature is asserted ; The Supercilious Airs of Vain Pedants Exposed ; Their Wise Objections Exploded ; And the Trite Witticisms, Usual on the Question, Fairly Stated and Confuted : Clearly Demonstrating, That the Weakness and Depravity imputed to the Fair Sex, is wholly owing to our utter Neglect of their Minds ; and that the proper Cultivation of them is the First and Grand Principle of all Human Excellence, as well as of all our social and domestic Felicity. [Bound with: “Lectures On The Art of Reading ; First Part: Containing The Art of Reading Prose. By Thomas Sheridan, A.M., Author of Lectures on Elocution, British Education, &c.”].

First Edition. Dublin, Printed by R.Marchbank, Cole’s Alley, Castle-Street, 1775. Small-Octavo (11.2 cm wide x 17.2 cm high). Pagination: Whyte’s “Modern Education…” is bound to the rear of the Volume: 77 pages plus “Corrigenda” (complete” / Sheridan’s “Lecture on the Art of Reading – Part I” is bound at the start of the Volume: vii, (1), 213 pages plus 1 page “Advertisement” [of Whyte’s “English Grammar-School” in Dublin, Grafton-Street, No.75”]. Hardcover / Original, full 18th century leather with gilt ornament and new spine-label in the style of the 18th century. In protective Mylar. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear. Extremely scarce title !

3. O’Donnell, F.Hugh.

The Ruin of Education in Ireland and the Irish Fanar [including a chapter: “The Priestly Boycott and the Irish Language” and with an Appendix: “The Mind of the Jesuit Order To-Day on the Killing of Heretics and the Liberty of Peoples”].

London, David Nutt, 1902. Large Octavo (17 cm x 23 cm). XXIII, 202 pages. Hardcover / Original publisher’s cloth with gilt lettering on spine and board. Very good condition with some minor signs of wear only.

4. O’Donnell, F.Hugh [Major George Bernard O’Connor / IRA].

The Ruin of Education in Ireland and the Irish Fanar [including a chapter: “The Priestly Boycott and the Irish Language” and with an Appendix: “The Mind of the Jesuit Order To-Day on the Killing of Heretics and the Liberty of Peoples”].

London, David Nutt, 1902. Large Octavo (17 cm x 23 cm). XXIII, 202 pages. Hardcover / Recently professionally restored. Modern half-leather-binding with dustjacket. Excellent condition with some minor signs of wear only. Some pages with some minor browning. From the library of Major George Bernard O’Connor, with his name “O’Connor” on titlepage and his Rochestown address (″Illane Roe, Rochestown, Co.Cork”, to endpaper). O’Connor, of the 6th Dragoons, was identified as spy and executed by the IRA on July 10th, 1921.