HISTORY & LITERATUE 13 MARCH 2016

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21
1798 Pike Head
A blacksmith made wrought iron pike head, of a
type used by United Irishmen in the 1798 Rebel-
lion. The shaft pierced for riveting to a handle.
21½ x 5¼in. (54.61 x 13.34cm)
Estimate €200-€250 £156-£195
22
Portrait of County Antrim Volunteer, Samuel
Nielson, circa 1782.
Coloured lithograph, circa 1820. Samuel Neilson
was born in 1762 and died in 1803 aged 21 years.
A member of the County Antrim Volunteers, he
was a cousin of David Bigger of High Street, Bel-
fast and The Trench, Molusk. Bears full inscription
on reverse. In rosewood and gilt frame.
Neilson was a founder of United Irishman along
with Henry Joy McCracken and Wolfe Tone. He
was arrested in an attempt to free Lord Edward
Fitzgerald, tried for treason and sentenced to
death. The sentence was commuted and he was
imprisoned in Scotland for 4 years, and then de-
ported to Holland. He emigrated to New York and
died there in 1803.
8 x 3¾in. (20.32 x 9.53cm)
Estimate €300-€500 £234-£390
23
Borlase, Edmund. The History of the Execrable
Irish Rebellion
Trac’d from Many Preceding Acts to the Grand
Eruption The 23 of October, 1641. And Thence
Pursued to the Act of Settlement, 1662. London:
Printed for Robert Clavell, St. Paul’s Churchyard
, 1680. First Edition. Folio. Hard Cover. Fair Pp.
xxii, 420, (8) (index), 46 (Appendix). Full calf is
worn, scuffed and split along spine edges. Corners
and spine ends bumped & rubbed. Lacking title
page.
Estimate €250-€300 £195-£234
24
1798 Society of United Irishmen of Dublin, cer-
tificate of membership.
Dated 21 May 1978 to “Henry....” conferrring his
election to membership “having taken the Test
provided in the Constitution”. Signed John Collis,
Secretary. Soiled and slight edge tears but very
good for this rare item.
4 x 12in. (10.16 x 30.48cm)
Estimate €800-€1000 £624-£780