Knowles, James Sheridan / Willan Smith, Robert.

Virginius – A Tragedy. In Five Acts. As Performed at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden. (First Edition, 1820) / Bound together with: The Hunchback – A Play in Five Acts (Fourth Edition, 1832). [Presentation copy / Signed copy]

Two Volumes in One. London, Printed for James Ridgway, 1820. Octavo. Pagination: Virginius – 85, (3) pages / Hunchback – VIII, (2), 118 pages. Hardcover / Original, contemporary green cloth with original red morocco label to spine. The Volume is now in protective Mylar. Stronger signs of foxing to “Virginius” but still in very good condition. Inscribed by James Sheridan Knowles to one Robert Willan Smith on the titlepage:″To Mr. Willan with the affectionate Respect + Gratitude of the Author”. Sheridan Knowles had a chance to be Willan’s successor but decided for a literary and acting career. / “The Hunchback” in excellent condition, also with inscription and signature of Knowles on the titlepage and with the ownership-inscription of Robert Willan Smith. Rare Cork related !

Lalor, James Fintan.

James Fintan Lalor: Patriot and Political Essayist, 1807-1849 – [Collected writings, edited with an introduction and biographical note by L. Fogarty].

Revised edition. Dublin, Talbot Press, 1947. 8º. XLIX, 147 pages. Original Hardcover. Excellent condition with only minor signs of external wear.

Le Brocquy, Louis / Montague, John / [Dupin, Jacques] / [Samuel Beckett].

Small Archive of personal correspondence between irish-american writer John Montague and irish artist Louis Le Brocquy plus many related items. The correspondence also includes John Montague touching on Samuel Beckett. The core of the collection includes 1. Extremely insightful and important, very personal manuscript-letter from John Montague to Louis Le Brocquy – Inside an envelope addressed by John Montague to Louis Le Brocquy at his french residence ‘Domaine des Combes’ with Louis Le Brocquy’s answer carefully tucked into the same envelope, treasured by John Montague. The densely filled, very personal 4-page-manuscript letter from John Montague, is dated Christmas 1981, written after “a sabbatical [..] on a long tour which led me as far as Los Angeles” and is a strong reflection of John Montague’s personal struggles, thoughts and influences as a writer; he talks about his ten years of teaching in the US “after O’Riada’s death led to a vacuum” and “enduring the semi-bourgeois limbo of Cork”. Montague speaks about the time “after the harness came off” and he “felt quite strange, and after thirty years my stammer returned in painful, nearly uncontrollable force”. Montague even touches on his fears about his health and continues “I clocked into a clinic for a rest cure….so far liver excellent, so it is not Sean or Brendan all over again (in any case, loving the stuff, as you do, I can’t overdrink; the tastebuds are against it)”. Montague dives into comparisons with Samuel Beckett: “″Did you realize that Sam Beckett was under analysis at the Tavistock Clinic for two years ? – The early Beckett is a smart alec; the break comes when he has to survive in post-war France and accept “his own darkness”. Montague also touches on his struggle with his mother “Isn’t it terrible that we spend up to nearly middle-[a]ge coping with the traumas of youth, with no way round it ? – I have cleared/cleaned/buried & forgiven my mother in my next book “The Dead Kingdom”….” – The letter continues to talk about books, “the Landslide Manuscript”, poetry and his work etc. etc. He mentions a Dupin “play” which “will travel in my Paris luggage”. Montague also touches on the subject of the Irish Troubles and writes “I have always, by the way, believed that 1916 may have been a mistake as Yeats said: “For England may keep faith – For all is said and done” / Montague speaks about “My own area of Tyrone is blessedly free from all but minor incidents” – Amazing document of confidence and trust between two irish landmark personalities. 2. Louis Le Brocquy’s answer to John Montague is dated “New Year’s Day 1981”[which should have been 1982]: A. Very personal manuscript Letter – a direct answer to Montague’s letter from “Christmas 1981” (1 sheet with both pages filled in ink and signed “Louis”) in which Le Brocquy reflects on the tense political situation with Northern Ireland and the overall worldwide tension of a looming war / Le Brocquy writes that he did have a “wild hope that when Charlie took office…that he and Thatcher might between them opted a ‘Rhodesian’ solution in the North” / Le Brocquy also writes about the eagerly awaited publication of “Selected Poems” of John Montague and he also asks John if “you thought of collecting Esteban’s and Dupin’s poems in French with your translations ?” – Le Brocquy offers to help with illustrations etc. – Both letters together in an envelope which suggests that John Montague received his letter to Louis le Brocquy back from the Le Brocquy-estate after Le Brocquy’s death. / Also included: B. A manuscript postcard with Le Brocquy’s “Girl in White” as a postcard-reproduction in which Le Brocquy suggests a project with John Montague and sends greetings to Montague’s wife Evelyn and the kids (in envelope from Carros,France) / C. In his function as chairman of Amnesty International, Le Brocquy sends a callout by Amnesty International to John Montague and kindly asks him to support the cause. He sends the callout to John by adding a few manuscript, personal lines of affection (in envelope from Carros,France).

France / Ireland, Carros / Cork, 1980-1981. A4. 4 pages on two sheets (main Montague-letter), 2 pages on 1 sheet (Le Brocquy – answer), 1 postcard, 1 manuscript-letter from Jacques Dupin to John Montague (25.10.1978) about a translation of “L’Éboulement” (Dupin also speaks about Louis le Brocquy in the letter), several pages of letters (mostly typed and signed) from other figures in irish and international literature and art. Original Envelopes. Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. Besides some ephemeral materials from personalities in Literature and Art, addressed to John Montague, the small collection includes several vintage photographs of John Montague, taken during his acceptance of a honorary Doctorate of Literature at UCC, Cork, as well as a Legislative Resolution by the State of New York (Senator Daly), recognizing and thanking the distinguished author and poet John Montague with this decree on May 26, 1987. Among the lesser interesting materials is a pamphlet titled “Ireland’s Literary Renaissance – 20th century Portraits” in which portraits by Louis Le Brocquy of John Montague and Thomas Kinsella are included. The pamphlet is accompanied by a letter from James White to John Montague in which he explains this being a publication that was released for an exhibition in Chicago and he apologises for the entries being “necessarily short but hopefully reasonably correct”. Provenance: From the private collection of John Montague’s papers in his recently sold West Cork Home.

Leland, Mary.

The Lie of the Land: Journeys through Literary Cork.

Cork, Cork University Press, 1999. 21,2 cm x 13,7 cm. VII, 264 pages. Whit maps and illustrations Original Illustrated softcover. Very Good condition with only minor signs of external wear.

Leonard, Hugh.

Home Before Night.

London, André Deutsch Limited, 1979. 14.5 cm x 22.5 cm. 202 pages. Original hardcover with dustjacket in protective mylar. Excellent condition with only very minor signs of external wear. Some brown spots on edges. Clean inside with solid binding.

Lynch, Patricia.

Brogeen and the Green Shoes – Illustrated by Peggy Fortnum.

First Edition. London, Burke, 1953. Octavo. 176 pages. Original Hardcover in protective Mylar. Some minor staining throughout. Otherwise in very good condition with only minor signs of wear.

Lynch, Patricia Henigin.

Like Gold to the Fire. Poems.

First edition. Simsbury, Path-L Publications, 2001. 13,5 cm x 21,5 cm. 40 pages. Original Softcover. Brochure. Very good condition with some minor signs of external wear. From the library of swiss – american – irish poet Chuck Kruger. The title page is missing.

Lysaght, Seán.

The Marram-Clocks [Signed].

First and only Edition. Westport [County Mayo], Published at Corratowick / Printed by Simon King [Cumbria,UK], 1997. Slim Quarto (18.2 cm x 26.5 cm). 12 pages. Original, illustrated softcover. Excellent condition with mild sunning to spine. Wonderfully set type, humbly inscribed by Seán Lysaght on the titlepage. Now very rare !

Mac Aodha, Aifric / Wheatley, David.

Foreign News – Poems in Irish. By Aifric Mac Aodha ; translated by David Wheatley.

First Edition [Bilingual in Gaeilge – English]. Loughcrew, Oldcastle, County Meath, Ireland, Gallery Press, 2017. 22 cm. 67 pages. Original Softcover. Excellent condition with some minor signs of wear only. [Gallery Books (Loughcrew, Ireland)].

Gaelic Book Cover Art – Mac Liammhóir, Mícheál / Mérimée, Prosper / Wells, H. G. (Herbert George) / Austin Molloy aka Austin Ó Maolaoid / Ó Cadhlaigh, Cormac / Chesterton, G.K. / Carleton, William / Collins, Wilkie / Corkery, Daniel / Cullum, Ridgwell / Ó Neachtain, Eoghan / Goldsmith, Oliver / Keightley, S. R. / and many others,

Collection of 35 gaelic publications (plus one english language edition by Annie M.P. Smithson), most of them with their stunning vintage dustjacket – art by artists like Austin Molloy and others. All publications vintage gaelic translation of world – literature and all published between the late 1920’s and late 1950’s.

Dublin and others, 1929 – 1957. Octavo. More than 4000 pages. Original Hardcover, nearly all with the rare illustrated dustjacket in protective collector’s Mylar. Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. Some dustjackets with larger tears. Some dustjackets missing. See full list and display of each book with photographs and detailed description. The price includes an upgrade to worldwide free shipping of the collection per DHL Express Courier.

Mac Liammóir, Micheál.

All for Hecuba – An Irish Theatrical Autobiography.

London, Methuen & Co., 1946. Octavo. Portrait Frontispiece, 390 pages. With 16 illustrations. Illustrated by Hellmuth Weissenborn. Original Hardcover with the rare illustrated dustjacket in protective collector’s Mylar. Some minor repair to the beautiful dustjacket. Excellent overall condition with only minor signs of foxing and some external wear. Including an interesting original newspaper clipping with an extensive obituary on Mac Liammóir by his friend and partner Hilton Edwards. Rare !

Mac Piarais, Pádraic / [Pádraig Pearse].

Bodach an Chóta Lachtna [The Carle in the Drab Coat].

Second Edition. Baile Átha Cliath, Connradh na Gaeilge, 1926. 8°. 28 pages. Original Softcover. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear.

MacMahon, Bryan.

The End of the World and other stories.

Dublin, Poolbeg Press, 1977. 12cm x 18.5cm. 156 pages. Original softcover. Text itself in good condition, some signs of external wear.

McDonagh, Philip.

Memories of an Ionian Diplomat.

Delhi, Ravi Dayal Publisher, 2004. 22 cm x 14 cm. IX, 99 pages. Original Hardcover with dustjacket. In protective mylar. Excellent, close to new condition. Association copy: Inscribed / Signed by the author Philip McDonagh to fellow irish poet, Adam Wyeth: “Adam, with best wishes, Philip McDonagh, 25th August, 2006”.

McDonnell, Hector (Illustrator).

The Night Before Larry was Stretched [with signed etching]. With an introduction by Terence de Vere White.

Belfast, The Blackstaff Press, 1984. 20.5 cm x 13 cm. IX, 96 pages. Original Hardcover in original slipcase. Number 48 out of a limited edition of 500 copies / Excellent, close to new condition. Includes orignial, signed etching.

McGovern, Alfred G.

Paddy Reilly from Ballyjamesduff.. .. – A Comedy in Two Acts, Four Scenes.

Third Edition. Enniskillen, Herald, 1945. Octavo. 55 pages. Original Softcover. Thecover slightly scruffy with stronger signs of wear and some staining. Still overall in good condition and a very rare publication !

Minihan, John / Heaney, Seamus.

Original photograph of Seamus Heaney at his 70th birthday in his home in Dublin, in the year 2009 / Titled and Signed by John Minihan in 2014 / The vintage photograph is here framed together with the original commemoration Stamp and signed First Day Cover of Anpost [The photograph was used as a Template for the creation of the Anpost Stamp in 2014].

Vintage Photograph on archival paper / Vintage First Day Cover with extra signature by John Minihan. Dublin, 2014. Image of the Photograph: 16 cm x 24 cm / First Day Cover: 18 cm x 12 cm. Overall Framed Size: 79 cm wide x 53,5 cm high. From the personal library of irish photographer John Minihan. Titled and signed by John Minihan. Beautifully framed (see multiple images on our website). Our company knows of an edition of four photographs and signed First Day Covers, which we bought from John Minihan in 2014 and which he signed in 2014. Later, signed First Day Covers are circulating and we have some of those in our archive for sale. But since John Minihan has sold the rights to most of his iconic images to UCC in Cork, none of the photographs are reprinted by the photographer and that makes this combination of the signed Seamus Heaney photograph, combined with the First Day Cover, signed actually on August 28th of 2014, very scarce. We have an edition of 3 (three) left. One is part of the “John Minihan Photography Collection”, which we are selling on our website (see under “Libraries & Collections”) and two are for sale on the free international market. The here offered, beautifully framed version, is one of these two. The price includes free international shipping per UPS Courier !

Minihan, John. (*1946)

Titled by John Minihan in manuscript handwriting: “Poet Seamus Heaney Photographed for his 70th birthday at his Dublin Home 2009” / [The photograph comes together with a true First edition of the book “North”, signed and dated by Seamus Heaney in the year of publication, 1975].

Extra Large Original Photograph on archival paper. Dublin, c. 2015. 32.5 cm wide x 38.2 cm high. From the private library and personal archive of irish photographer John Minihan. Titled and signed by John Minihan below the image. Unusual, large print of this stunning and intimate photograph of Irelands beloved poet. Beautifully framed.

Montague, John [ed.].

The Faber Book of Irish Verse. [Signed / Inscribed Association copy , heavily annotated by poet Chuck Kruger].

First Faber and Faber edition. London, Faber and Faber, 1978. 12,5 cm x 20 cm. 400 pages. Original Softcover. Very good condition with some minor signs of external wear. From the library of swiss – american – irish poet Chuck Kruger. With his name and a beautiful inscription by John Montague to Chuck Kruger on the half title: “Love to Chuck – John”. Occasional markings and annotations in the text.

Moore, George.

Conversations in Ebury Street. [With an interesting full-page manuscript letter by George Moore, written in ink into the book verso titlepage].

Second edition. New York, Boni and Liveright, Inc., 1924. 14.5 x 21.5cm. 315 pages. Original hardcover with spine label. Deckled edges. With a fantastic, full-page, signed message written inside the book by George Moore. Very good – condition of the binding with signs of external wear (some spotting). Moore responds in his manuscript note on the halftitle possibly to the request of Frieda Lawrence, wife of D.H.Lawrence, who requested a copy of Moore’s book “The Pastoral Loves of Daphnis and Chloe”. Moore sent her instead this edition.