Page 22 - Whyte's History, Literature & Collectables Sat 26 Jan 2013 (Use full screen from menu for best Viewing)

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WHYTESSINCE 1783
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20th Century: Dan Rainey historical Belfast maritime and shipping
watercolours and pen and ink drawings
A large collection of artworks by Dan Rainey comprising of 204 large
watercolours and pen and ink drawings, 8 small watercolours and 1 oil
painting of ships that passed through Belfast, all contained loosely in
albums. Also an album comprising of 19 pages with watercolours of
ships ensigns, flags and colours. An extremely impressive collection of
great quality and historical interest. Ships include Carrickmore,
Ballyhenry, Stramore, Roslea, Cushendal, Balmarino, Millisle, Annagher,
Susannah Kelly, Melissa, W.M. Barkley, Theory, Craigavad, Moyallon,
Clewbay, Clarecastle, Cavehill, Zulu, Lagan, Claremorris, Woodburn,
Oranmore, May, Tory Island etc. Many of them were Irish registered
vessels. (232 items)
€4,000-€6,000 (£3,252-£4,878 approx)
130
circa 1914 Irish Volunteers enrolment form
A scarce blank form designed and worded by Padraig Pearse. Produced
by “The Irish Volunteer” 65 Mid Abbey Street, Dublin. 5.25 x 8in. (13.34 x
20.32cm)
€200-€300 (£163-£244 approx)
131
1914: Outbreak of WW1 - Roundwood, Wicklow Irish Volunteers
letters and correspondence
A collection of letters and documents send to Laurence Murphy of the
Roundwood District Irish Volunteers following the outbreak of the First
World War. Comprising of letter dated 21 August 1914 from Shanganagh
Cottage, Ballybrack relating to Irish Volunteer organisation in Wicklow,
mobilisation schemes etc. Letter dated 22 August from Major H. de
Montgomery, Chief Inspecting Officer for the Irish Volunteers in Wicklow
stating that Colonel (Maurice George) Moore is to review the Wicklow
Volunteers and asking the Roundwood men to muster at
Newtownmountkennedy. Postcard dated 26 August stating that Colonel
Moore has deferred his inspection until 20 September at Tinahely.
Letter dated 12 September from Walter Hugh Frizell of Castle Kevin,
Annamoe enclosing a cheque for £5 towards the Roundwood District
Irish Volunteers and hoping that “...the movement will soon be given a
military status and thus be enabled to prove a real service in the defence
of the country during the present crisis...”. Mimeograph note dated 12
October from Glasthule Company, Dunleary Battalion Irish Volunteers
asking the recipient to dispose of the enclosed raffle tickets offering the
chance to win a rifle. Undated letter from Laurence Murphy at Wynn’s
Hotel to the clerk in charge of the Railway Goods Store at Bray asking
him to inform one ‘Pat Byrne’ that there are “some Volunteer fittings for
the Roundwood Corps at the parcel store. Undated letter again from
Laurence Murphy at Wynn’s Hotel to an unnamed Doctor relating the
package at Bray Railway Station which contains 30 sets of belts,
bandoliers and haversacks. Single page manuscript note stating the
layout of the 8 Irish Volunteer companies making up the 2nd Wicklow
Battalion Irish Volunteers. A scarce collection of documents from the
period of the split in the Volunteers and which give a clear example of
the way in which regional branches reacted to the outbreak of war in
1914 and prepared to support the war effort as the National Volunteers.
€500-€700 (£407-£569 approx)
132
1914-18: The Betrayal of Roger Casement and the Irish Brigade
Original unpublished manuscript by Sergeant Francis Kavanagh A large
274 page typescript unpublished manuscript with photographs written
by Francis Kavanagh in 1955 as a history and a personal memoir of
Roger Casement’s German Irish Brigade during the First World War. A
historically important item charting not only the history of the Brigade
but also Kavanagh’s personal story and feelings in relation to it. An
invaluable source for anybody studying the period albeit, as the title of
the manuscript suggests, not the most neutral of accounts. Kavanagh
was born in 1890 in Dublin and enlisted in the South Irish Horse prior to
the outbreak of the First World War. He served on the Western Front
from August 1914 and was taken prisoner during the early stages of the
British retreat. As a POW he became an early recruit into Casement’s ill-
fated Irish Brigade and was therefore in an excellent position to witness
the history of the Brigade from start to finish. In 1955, ten years prior to
his death, he completed this book which never found a publisher. This
appears to be one of very few manuscripts of Kavanagh’s work which
was produced and also has a number of hand written alterations to the
original text. 13 x 8.50in. (33.02 x 21.59cm)
€2,000-€3,000 (£1,626-£2,439 approx)
133
1915-1919: Pierce McCan, Tipperary Sinn Féin politician, collection of
letters
A collection of 17 complete letters and other documents dated between
1915 and 1919, from and relating to McCan who died in Gloucester
Prison in England during the influenza epidemic. Consisting of nine
letters by Pierce McCan, three of them from detention, six letters by
Jane McCan (Pierce’s mother) mostly after Pierce’s death, one from
Francis McCan (Pierce’s brother, a typescript letter from George Roberts
of Maunsel to Pierce McCan concerning a work in Irish by Pádraic Ó
Conaire which MacCan was seeking to have published, dated 10 October
1916. Also a telegram dated 1915, arranging a meeting, and three
incomplete letters, lacking opening pages, all from McCan.
These letters were all sent to McCan’s friend Joan Jennings of Dublin
who shared many of his interests and assisted him in many projects
relating to Republican politics and the Irish language. Most written
while McCan was in Gloucester Jail or the from the Kerry Gaeltacht and
many with interesting content relating to his religious beliefs, his
detention, interest in the Irish language and culture, the influenza
epidemic which would claim his life, publications of Pádraic Ó Conaire
etc. (22 items)
€600-€800 (£488-£650 approx)
134
1916 Rising Medal, Armband and documents to Christopher Murphy,
seriously wounded at Boland’s Mills
A collection of items relating to 1916 veteran Christopher J. Murphy
comprising of 1916 Medal, 1916 veterans’ armband made by Bergins,
Emergency period Irish Army Volunteer Force service book and letter
from Justice Michael J. Lennon to Mrs. Murphy following the death of
Christopher. (4 items) Christopher J. Murphy was born in the parish of
St. Kevin’s Dublin in 1890. During the Rebellion he fought as a member
of the Boland’s Mills Garrison under the command of Éamon de Valera.
In the middle of the fighting he was shot by a sniper from a height, the
bullet entering his throat and coming out through his lung. Despite the
best efforts of doctors following the surrender they were unable to
remove all the bullet shrapnel. He continued to serve through the War of
Independence using his barber shop at Camden Row in Dublin as a safe
house. During the Emergency he decided to enlist with the Irish Army
despite his ill health and joined at Griffith Barracks in July 1940 aged 50
his enlistment documents noting as a distinctive mark “Bullet wound
scar on throat 1916”. Christopher Murphy died of lead poisoning on 25
July 1942, the letter sent to his wife by Justice Lennon noting that his
“death.. is a great break for all those who were his comrades in the old
Third Battalion”.
Provenance: Christopher Joseph Murphy, Third Battalion, Dublin Brigade,
Irish Volunteers; thence by descent
€2,500-€3,500 (£2,000-£2,800 approx)
135
1916-22: 4th Battalion Carlow Brigade attributed veterans armband
and letter
An unofficial and extremely scarce veterans armband in the colours of
the tricolour and marked “A. Coy. 4th”. Also with mimeograph records
copy letter written by Pierce Murphy ex officer commanding ‘A’
Company (Ballymurphy) 4th Battalion Carlow Brigade dated 21 February
1938. Certifying that Michael Hickey was a member of the battalion as a
Company Captain during the War of Independence, took part in the
attack on Bagnelstown Barracks and also volunteered for special service
with the Kilkenny Brigade. An extremely scarce attributed item relating
to Carlow and the War of Independence. 5 x 16in. (12.70 x 40.64cm)
€300-€500 (£244-£407 approx)