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Irish History – Rare (258 items)

Ayearst, The Republic of Ireland - Its Government and Politics

7. Ayearst, Morley.

The Republic of Ireland – Its Government and Politics – Collection of 215 books on Irish Politics, Irish Government, Irish local planning and Local government, Irelands connection to the EU, History of Irish Elections, books on Governmental policy (general and irish related), books on the history of Ireland’s connection to the UK etc. Also included are several publications on the history of the irish political parties. The comprehensive collection comes from the library of a former council man and university lecturer and includes many of the minor and major publications needed to understand the forming of the irish state from 1940 onwards. The collection includes publications like: 1. John McG. Smyth – The Theory and Practice of the Irish Senate / 2. John Coakley and Michael Gallagher – Politics in the Republic of Ireland / 3. Desmond Roche – Local Government in Ireland / 4. Patrick Keatinge – Maastricht and Ireland – What the Treaty means / 5. Stephen Collins – The Power Game – Fianna Fail since Lemass / 6. Cornelius O’Leary – Irish Elections (1918 – 1977) – Parties, Voters and Proportional Representation / 7. Bruce Arnold – What Kind of Country – Modern Irish Politics 1968-1983 / 8. Michael Flannery – Sanitation – Conservation and Recreation Services in Ireland / 9. Peter Mair – The Changing Irish Party System / 10. R.C.Geary – and F.S.O Muircheartaigh – Equalization of Opportunity in Ireland – Statistical Aspects / 11. Mary Minihan – A Deal with the Devil – The Green Party in Government / 12. Donal de Buitleir – Problems of Irish Local Finance / 13. Communications and Community in Ireland (Brian Farrell) / etc. etc.

London, University of London Press, 1971. 24 cm. vii,241 pages with 8 plates. Original Hardcover with original dustjacket. Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. The collection of 215 books (of which only c.60 are listed here) is in very good condition (only a few volumes with stronger wear).

EUR 1.440,-- 

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[Bloody Sunday / Pamphlet plus Rare original Letters and Witness Statements

13. [Bloody Sunday / Pamphlet plus Rare original Letters and Witness Statements of members of “The Association of Irish Priests” Priests who were eyewitnesses to the Bloody Sunday Events].

“Massacre at Derry” [Pamphlet] plus: Typed Letter and Typed Statements by Donal Flanagan (Secretary of the Central Committee of the Association of Irish Priests) and original Typescript-Statements by the Association of Irish Pries: Typescript 1: “Documentation on the Situation in the North of Ireland” [″Statement on ‘Violence’ by the Ulster Branch of the Association of Irish Priests”] (3 pages) / Typescript 2: “Statement issued by seven priests who were in Derry’s Bogside during the Shootings on 30th January 1972” (″We accuse the Colonel of the Parachute Regiment of wilful murder…..It is untrue that shots were fired at the troops in Rossville Street before they attacked….signed (typed) by Reverends Anthony Mulvey, Edward Daly, G.McLaughlin, Denis Bradley, Michael McIvor, Thomas O’Gara) / Typescript 3: “Letter of Reverend Terence M.O’Keefe, Secretary Ulster Branch, Association of Irish Priests (Published in ‘Irish Press’, 5 February 1972 (″May i be permitted the use of your columns to give account of what i personally witnessed in Derry on Sunday afternoon”….″hen the Paratroopers arrived to us, Fr. Bradley and myself were refused permission on three occasions to attend to the wounded and dying, this with the most foul abuse and some blows from rifle butts”…″I was brought to a lorry, batoned in into it and taken to the army base on the Strand road….I find myself with bruised legs, arm and some back pain…I was lucky….Many others from the second lorry-load had faces smashed and heads cracked during their journey to the army centre….I might, perhaps, be counted as a reasonably credible witness as a Roman Catholic Priest, a university lecturer (in philosophy) and at present Dean of the School of Humanities at the New University of Ulster. I suppose that at present my feelings are of sickness, disgust and, I am afraid, anger. All I can hope is that some time in the future forgiveness and love will replace these. Till then is it too much to ask that the truth be told and that Westminster face the question of responsibility for what I personally, can only see as callous and brutal murder?” (Signed (Typed): Terence M.O’Keefe) /

First Edition (possibly only edition). Derry & Maynooth, Civil Rights Movement & Letters and Staments form Priest of St.Patrick’s College (Maynooth) and the Association of Irish Priests (Eagras Sagart Eireann), 1972. Octavo. Pamphlet: 48 pages / Typed Letter and Statements: “Letter by Donal Flanagan”: 1 page / “Documentation on the Situation in the North of Ireland”: 3 pages / “Statement by Seven Priests”: 1 page / “Letter of Reverend Terence O’Keefe”: 2 pages. Stapled, original, illustrated softcover pamphlet and stapled Letters/Statements. Overall in very good condition with only minor signs of wear. Extremely rare Pamphlet but even rarer original documents from the Priest of Maynooth College in Protest of the events of Bloody Sunday and a general analysis of the Situation in the North (Sociological Analysis). Extremely scarce collection.

EUR 960,-- 

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Bunting, The Ancient Music of Ireland

17. Bunting, Edward.

The Ancient Music of Ireland, arranged for the Piano Forte. To which is prefixed a Dissertation on the Irish Harp and Harpers, Including an Account of the Old Melodies of Ireland / [″A General Collection of the Ancient Music of Ireland, arranged for the Piano Forte; some of the most admired melodies are adapted for the voice, to poetry chiefly translated from the original Irish songs”].

Reprint of the First Edition (Dublin, 1840). Three Volumes in One. Dublin, Cahill & Co., 1969. Folio. Pagination: Three titlepages for three works bound in one: Volume I: “The Ancient Music of Ireland” (1840): 11, 100 pages of History of Irish Music and the Antiquity of the Harp and Bagpipe of Ireland” as well as 109 pages of “The Ancient Music of Ireland arranged for the Pianoforte” with the essential “Index to the Irish Names of the Airs” [Names of Airs are displayed in Gaelic / in English Translation and then Translated [For example: “A muinnin” / “A muirnin” / “The Darling”] and “Index to the English Names of the Airs” [with “Name of the Air”, “Author and Date of Origin of the Air” as well as “Where and from Whom procured”]/ Volume II: “A General Collection of the Ancient Music of Ireland” (1809) – with: “An Historical and Critical Disssertation on the Harp” – 28 pages of text plus two p;lates of Historical Harp – Illustrations plus 72 pages of Irish Airs set to Music / Volume III: “A General Collection of the Ancient Irish Music – Containing a variety of Admired Airs never before Published” (1796), 31 pages//. Original Hardcover. Excellent condition of this important reproduction of the original 18th and 19th century edition of Bunting’s work on Airs and the Harp. Essential for every collection on the History of Irish Music and in this reprduced form especially carefree to use.

EUR 160,-- 

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The Life and Times of Sir Peter Carew - with two manuscript letters by historian George Oliver, Exeter

24. [Carew, Sir Peter / George Oliver (Historian) / John Carew Esq.] MacLean, John.

The Life and Times of Sir Peter Carew, Kt. (From the Original Manuscript) – With a Historical Introduction and Elucidatory Notes, by John MacLean. [Personal copy of John Carew Esq., with two unpublished manuscript letters by historian George Oliver, Exeter (Devon), tipped-in to the rear of the Volume, one longer manuscript entry to the rear in which George Oliver mentions that he has consulted the Inventory of Ottery Mohan House and that he has “made a few pencil notes in the margin” of the book (Oliver must have been sent the book and then returned it or it was his own copy and he gifted it to John Carew)/ George Oliver helped John Carew, Esq., a descendant of Sir Peter Carew, to identify some information form the original manuscript of John Hoker, to which Oliver must have had access. The letters deal with details of John Hoker’s [Hooker’s] Manuscript on Sir Peter Carew and details in John MacLean’s Biography of Carew. George Oliver’s correspondence with John Carew, a descendant of Sir Peter, is very interesting indeed and Oliver seems to study the original manuscript by Hoker for John Carew and reports his insight in the original manuscript of Hoker’s Manuscript on History, mentioning for example Carew’s death-notice: “This year died the worthy and Honorable Knight Sir Peter Carew at Ross in Leinster, and buried in the City of Waterford in Munster in Ireland, in all such honourable order…” (see detailed images on our website)].

London, Bell & Daldy, 1857. Octavo. Frontispiece portrait of Sir Peter Carew (Steel Engraving by J.J.Chant, being Plate I.), CXVIII, 317 pages plus 6 pages “List of Subscribers”. With several Plates: Plate II: Musical Notes: “By a Bank as I lay” / Plate III: Monument to Sir Peter Carew in St.Peter’s Cathedral, Exeter (Steel Engraving) / Plate IV: Folded Map of Kylkenny (Kilkenny) / Plate V: Pedigree of the Family of Carew (Large Fold – out Plate). Hardcover / Original publisher’s cloth with gilt lettering on spine and armorial emblemata on front board. With the armorial supralibro of the Carew Family to the binding’s front board: Arms of Carew: Or, three lions passant in pale sable / Manuscript-entry of previous owner John Carew on endpaper. Boards fragile and spine loosened. In protective Collector’s Mylar to give the slightly broken binding stability. A very rare publication with the beautiful, signed manuscript-letters by George Oliver, signed in the years 1857 and 1858. The letters are also of interest regarding the history of John Hoker [John Hooker / John Vowell] because George Oliver mentions Hoker’s entry “into the New Office of Chamberlain of Exeter at Michaelmas 1555 – having the fee of £4 by the yere & his Lyveries – MS. Hist. p.351”.

EUR 250,-- 

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Collection of eight publications by and about Agnes Mary Clerke plus one autographed / signed manuscript - letter by Agnes Clerke.

29. [Clerke, Agnes Mary].

Collection of eight publications by and about Agnes Mary Clerke plus one autographed / signed manuscript-letter by Agnes Clerke [The letter answers the request of a fellow german Astronomer who complimented her on her History of Astronomy and asked for her permission to translate her latest work). The recipient is possibly german astronomer R.Engelmann who wrote about Nebula. The letter dates from 1891 and is written in perfect german (Agnes Clerke was known to have written reviews and letters in French, German, Greek and Italian). This rare collection includes the following books: 1. A.M.Clerke – Geschichte der Astronomie während des neunzehnten Jahrhunderts. Gemeinfasslich dargestellt. (Autorisierte deutsche Ausgabe von H.Maser) – First german edition of “A popular History of Astronomy during the 19th century” from 1889 – with a signed, contemporary manuscript letter by Agnes Clerke in german (!) regarding this publication / 2. Agnes Clerke – Familiar Studies in Homer (London, 1892) / 3. Agnes Clerke – “The Herschels and Modern Astronomy” (with a loosely inserted portrait of Sir William Herschel) (London, 1895) / 4. Agnes Clerke – “A popular History of Astronomy during the 19th century” (The important Fourth Edition, revised and corrected by the author) (London, Adam and Charles Black, 1902) – Famously: With the vintage photographs pasted to frontispiece and titlepage / 5. Agnes Clerke – “The System of the Stars” – Second Edition (London, 1905) / 6. Agnes Clerke – Modern Cosmogonies (London, 1905) / 7. Agnes Clerke – “A popular History of Astronomy during the 19th century” 1908-Reprint of the important Fourth Edition, revised and corrected by the author) (London, Adam and Charles Black, 1908) / 8. Mary Brueck / Mary Brück – Agnes Mary Clerke & The Rise of Astrophysics (Cambridge University Press, 2002).

A mixture of first and later editions. Berlin / London, Springer / Cassell / Longmans & Green and others, 1889 – 1908. Octavo. More than 2500 pages with many illustrations and diagrams etc. / The vintage letter has two pages filled and signed by Clerke in ink / The only modern publication within the collection is a very important monograph on Clerke by scientist Mary Brueck / Mary Brück, published by Cambridge University Press (275 pages). Original Hardcovers in bespoke protective collector’s Mylar. Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. A stunning collection of all the major publications by this important woman astronomer. Agnes Clerke paved the way for women in science and must be seen as the pioneer female astronomer. The price includes worldwide free shipping of the collection per UPS Express Courier.

EUR 1.800,-- 

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McKevitt, Christus Rex - An Irish Quarterly Journal of Sociology. A Collection of 24 Volumes

51. [Curtayne, Alice] / McKevitt, P. / Lucey, C. / Conway, J. Jacobus / Christus Rex Society of Irish Diocesan Priests / Rísteard Ó Cíonga [Richard King as Illustrator] / etc.

Alice Curtayne as Contributor to Irish Periodicals / Journals / Digests. The collection aims for completion and collects not only issues of periodicals with contributions by Alice Curtayne but hopes to complete each set of periodicals to which Alice Curtayne contributed between the years of 1930 and 1980, in order to allow for cross-referencing of contributors, study cooperation between illustrators and Alice Curtayne, her influence and acceptance as early female contributor in a men’s world, possibly even deciphering pseudonyms under which Curtayne might have written or essays she might have contributed to but her name was omitted; in general: circumstances which have not been detected yet. The Collection is documented thoroughly in professional images and descriptions on our website and includes to date: I. Alice Curtayne as Contributor to “The Irish Digest”: 1. “The Irish Digest” from September 1940 – including the article: Alice Curtayne – “Lament of an Author” / II. Alice Curtayne as Contributor to “Christus Rex”: “Christus Rex” – An Irish Quarterly Journal of Sociology. A Collection of 24 issues of the important and underrated publication “Christus Rex” including: 1. Volume XX, No.4 of “Christus Rex”: Alice Curtayne – “The Council and Women” ]. / III. Alice Curtayne as Contributor to “The Furrow”: “The Furrow” – Monthly Journal published by the Leinster Leader, Naas and Edited by Rev. J.G.McGarry. A Collection of 56 issues of the Journal, including two issues with Curtayne – publications: 1. “Saint Patrick in his Confession” – (In: “The Furrow” from March 1951) and 2. “Marillac Manor” (in “The Furrow” from July 1959) and 3. “Ecumenism in Dublin” (In “The Furrow” from February 1966) / IV. Alice Curtayne as Contributor to “The Capuchin Annual”. Including: 1. Alice Curtayne – “For the Septcentenary of St.Anthony of Padua (1231 – 1931)” – [including a portrait photograph of Alice Curtayne] / 2. Alice Curtayne – “Five Irish Saints” (″The Living Patrick” / “Saint Colmcille – Irishman” / “Saint Brendan – The Navigator” / “Saint Ita” / “The Method of Saint Columbus” / (In: Capuchin Annual 1945-1946 – with Illustrations in color by Stained Glass Artist, Rísteard Ó Cíonga [Richard King].

Naas, Christus Rex Publications, 1949 – 1967. Octavo. 81 Issues with different amounts of pages and content. Overall c. 4800 pages. Original Softcover. Excellent condition with some minor signs of wear only. Some of the issues with annotations and some with a former library-stamp. Very rare run of these periodicals which invited contributions from other women writers like Ita Meehan.

EUR 1.440,-- 

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Vere Foster, "Presentation Copy of "The Two Duchesses" with Autograph / Manuscript-Letter

75. 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.

EUR 9.500,-- 

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Hodges, Cork and County Cork in the Twentieth Century / Contemporary Biographies

94. Hodges, Rev. Richard J. / Pike, W.T.

Cork and County Cork in the Twentieth Century / Contemporary Biographies. / [History of Big Houses, Town Houses and Country Estates in Cork, County Cork, North Cork, East Cork & West Cork with original Photographs of Houses and Portraits as well as Biographies of the Men and their Families who lived in these Houses] / [Half-Leather-Version – Limited Edition Reprint]. Edited by W. T. Pike.

Limited Edition Reprint of the First and only Edition by Pike in 1911. [Skibbereen (County Cork)], Inanna Rare Books / Inanna Reprint Series, 2022. 4° (24,5 cm wide x 33,5 cm high). 319 pages with hundreds of photographs and including an Index to Biographies and Illustrations. Hardcover / Half-Leather with marbled-paper-covered boards in protective Collector’s Mylar. [Important Information: This special limited edition has a special feature which makes each volume of this reprint unique: Each version of the book is bound by hand by a craft-bookbindery and the colour of the leather and endpapers, as well as the marbled-paper-covered boards, are always different / This means the interior is always the same while the look of the binding can differ from the image attached to this description]. One of 350 copies of the Half-Leather-version of a limited edition, republished by Inanna Rare Books Ltd. / This high-quality reprint, hand-bound and hand-numbered, includes hundreds of photographs of grand houses in the irish countryside from South Cork to North Cork, from East Cork to West Cork. The stories of the houses are not only accompanied by photographs of now mostly vanished or derelict homes, the images also show the original state of homes which are now restructured etc. The second part of the publication offers an abundance of historical biographies of local irish Nobility (Meade family, O’Callaghan, Browne, Kelly etc.), Gentry and Clergy and general owners of Country Houses etc. [Pike’s New Century Series].

EUR 360,-- 

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Hodges, Cork and County Cork in the Twentieth Century / Contemporary Biographies

95. Hodges, Rev. Richard J. / Pike, W.T.

Cork and County Cork in the Twentieth Century / Contemporary Biographies. / [History of Big Houses, Town Houses and Country Estates in Cork, County Cork, North Cork, East Cork & West Cork with original Photographs of Houses and Portraits as well as Biographies of the Men and their Families who lived in these Houses] / [Full-Leather-Version – Limited Edition Reprint]. Edited by W. T. Pike.

Limited Edition Reprint of the First and only Edition by Pike in 1911. [Skibbereen (County Cork)], Inanna Rare Books / Inanna Reprint Series, 2022. 4° (24,5 cm wide x 33,5 cm high). 319 pages with hundreds of photographs and including an Index to Biographies and Illustrations. Hardcover / Full-Leather with marbled-paper-covered boards in protective Collector’s Mylar. [Important Information: This special limited edition has a special feature which makes each volume of this reprint unique: Each version of the book is bound by hand by a craft-bookbindery and the colour of the leather and endpapers, are always different / This means the interior is always the same while the look of the binding can differ from the image attached to this description]. One of 150 copies of the Full-Leather-version of a limited edition, republished by Inanna Rare Books Ltd. / This high-quality reprint, hand-bound and hand-numbered, includes hundreds of photographs of grand houses in the irish countryside from South Cork to North Cork, from East Cork to West Cork. The stories of the houses are not only accompanied by photographs of now mostly vanished or derelict homes, the images also show the original state of homes which are now restructured etc. The second part of the publication offers an abundance of historical biographies of local irish Nobility (Meade family, O’Callaghan, Browne, Kelly etc.), Gentry and Clergy and general owners of Country Houses etc. [Pike’s New Century Series].

EUR 440,-- 

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John - An account of the Principal Lazarettos in Europe; with various papers relative to the Plague

96. Howard, John / [Daniel Conner Library]

An account of the Principal Lazarettos in Europe; with various papers relative to the Plague: Together with further Observations on some foreign Prisons and Hospitals; and additional remarks on The Present State of those in Great Britain and Ireland. [Including chapters on English Prisons and Hospitals, Hulks [Prison-Ships] on the Thames, Remarks on the Gaol-Fever, Remarks on Penitentiary Houses, Scottish Prisons and Hospitals, Irish Prisons and Hospitals, Charter Schools in Ireland etc.]

First Edition. Warrington, Printed by William Eyres; And sold by T. Cadell, J. Johnson, C. Dilly, and J. Taylor in London, 1789. Quarto (24,5 cm x 30,5 cm). VIII, 259 pages plus 13 unnumbered pages of Index and 1 page “Directions to the Book-Binder”. Collation complete with 22 plates of which 20 are large fold-out-engravings. Hardcover / Contemporary 18th century calf with gilt lettering on spine. Stunning Volume, recently restored and rebacked by two english master-binders. Very good+ condition with only minor signs of external wear. After the restoration now a highly-desirable collectable. One of the first sociological studies of conditions within the penal system of England and Ireland compared to other 18th-century practices within European Jails / Gaols. The partly romantic engravings seem sinister when one imagines what inmates and children endured within these settings. From the library of Daniel Conner (Connerville / Manch House), with his Exlibris / Bookplate to pastedown.

EUR 2.800,-- 

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