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c. 1000BC: Trio of Bronze Age Irish gold 'Ring Money'
Gold 'ring money' in the form of three plain rings, originating from
Northern Ireland. Extremely scarce as a trio.
Pre Christian Ireland had a very precise set of laws which usually
involved a payment by the perpetrator of a crime to the victim or the
victim's family. The punishment for default was death. The records of
these laws (mostly dating from Christian era documents) state that
slaves and cattle were an accepted medium of large exchange.
Presumably smaller exchanges were made on a similar basis with tools
and ornaments. There are a number of gold and gold plated rings found
in Irish and other Celtic contexts referred to as 'ring money'. The
variation in the quality and standard of these pieces does not suggest a
fixed denomination but rather that these items were used like hack
silver and assayed at every exchange. The gold plated pieces are a
problem in this context as they do not seem to be likely to have been
made in imitation of solid pieces nor would they have been easy to
assay. Hoards of Irish Celtic gold ornaments often consist of quantities
of cloak fasteners suggesting that these items were used as a medium of
exchange rather than just for fastening cloaks. But as with the ring
money there is no evidence for a fixed series of weights and measures
being used in their manufacture. We are grateful to John Stafford
Langan, www.irishcoinage.com, for this note.
€3,000-€4,000 (£2,500-£3,333 approx)
2
c. 1000BC: Bronze Age Irish Gold Ring Money from Co. Armagh
Gold sheet over copper. Originating from County Armagh. With folded-
over ends.
€800-€1,000 (£667-£833 approx)
3
c. 1000BC: Bronze Age Irish Gold Ring Money
Gold sheet over copper. A good example from Northern Ireland
€800-€1,000 (£667-£833 approx)
4
c. 750-600BC: Late Bronze Age socketed bronze axe head
Extremely fine and rare Ewart Park Phase bronze axe head with three
diverging ribs on each face and prominent mouth moulding. Found
during Limestone quarrying in Cardiganshire, Wales in 1890. 5 x 2in.
(12.70 x 5.08cm)
Provenance:
R. G. Widdowson Antiquities, North Yorkshire; Whence purchased by the
present owner
€400-€500 (£333-£417 approx)
5
1950-1: Codex Cenannensis: The Book of Kells
Bern: Urs Graf, vellum stamped in gilt; boxes.
Facsimile edition of the Book of Kells in two volumes, comprising of
hundreds of plates with many in colour, including all the openings to
Gospels. Also with a printed reproduction of the first introductory text
volume. (3 items) 16 x 12in. (40.64 x 30.48cm)
€150-€250 (£125-£208 approx)
6
1868: Facsimiles of the Miniatures and Ornaments of Anglo-Saxon
and Irish Manuscripts
by J.O. Westwood Quaritch London, 1868, folio, 156pp.
One of an edition of 200, illustrated with 54 excellent
chromolithographic plates. Presented in a cloth folding box. 22 x 14in.
(55.88 x 35.56cm)
€600-€800 (£500-£667 approx)
7
1791: Francis Grose The Antiquities of Ireland
limited edition with colour plates
London. Hooper. 1791.
Comprising of two volumes with a total of 266 very fine contemporarily
hand coloured plates. Only a total of 25 copies of this work were
coloured hence the absolute rarity of this set. Attractively bound in
three quarter green morocco with marbled boards and ornate gilt spine.
The last copy of this limited edition with handcoloured prints to be
offered for sale was listed in Hodges Figgis’ A Catalogue of Books
Relating to Ireland, August 1953.14 x 10in. (35.56 x 25.40cm)
€8,000-€10,000 (£6,667-£8,333 approx)
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1791: Francis Grose The Antiquities of Ireland
Quarter leather, marbled boards, gilt titles.
Hooper, London, 1791. First Edition. Two volumes. A sought after
publication. Illustrated throughout and with information regarding all
parts of the country. (2 items) 11 x 7.50in. (27.94 x 19.05cm)
€300-€500 (£250-£417 approx)
9
1766: The History and Antiquities of the City of Dublin by Walter
Harris
Original calf, 509pp.
The History and Antiquities of the City of Dublin. From the earliest
accounts, Compiled from Authentick Memoirs, Offices of Record,
Manuscript Collections, and other unexceptionable Vouchers. Published
by Laurence Flinn, Castle Street and James Williams, Skinner Row, Dublin.
8 x 5.50in. (20.32 x 13.97cm)
€100-€150 (£83-£125 approx)
10
1566 (20 March) Important State letter issued by King Philip II of
Spain to Cardinal Innocenzo del Monte.
Single page manuscript. Important letter sent from Madrid signed “Yo El
Rey” by the King. Also signed by Gonzalo Peres the King’s personal
secretary. Also bearing the State Seal. In this letter which is full of
diplomatic grandeur, King Philip refers to his cousin the Marquis de
Aqullar, the fact that he has been chosen as the King’s agent “in this
great matter.", which could refer to several things including his
attempted settlement of a Catholic suitor for Queen Elizabeth I 11.50 x
11.50in. (29.21 x 29.21cm)
€500-€700 (£417-£583 approx)
11
1950: Siege of Clonmel Commemoration Tercentenary Souvenir
Record
Siege of Clonmel Commemoration Tercentenary Souvenir Record 1650-
1950 edited by P. O'Connell and W. C. Darmody. 100pp with folding map
of Clonmel and signed by O'Connell. 9.50 x 7.50in. (24.13 x 19.05cm)
€100-€120 (£83-£100 approx)
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1657: Composite Atlas Orbis Novi et Antiqvi Delineatio
Folio, contemporary pigskin over boards, marked G.M.F. to spine.
Collection of bound 16th Century maps. Manuscript title Orbis Novi et
Antiqvi Delineatio, 1657, G.M.F. within an engraved title page. A total of
90 engraved maps (72 double page) by or after Mercator, Ortelius,
Hondius, Janssonius and Quad, with fine examples of Ireland. Some maps
cut to neatline or backed on paper. Volume with ex-libris label of Philipp
Ferdinand von Gudenu (1710-1783), a draughtsman who worked in
Mainz and Constantinople. A unique and fascinating item. 16 x 12in.
(40.64 x 30.48cm)
€10,000-€12,000 (£8,333-£10,000 approx)
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1610: John Speed map of the province of Connaught
Intaglio, handcoloured, framed.
Attractive map of Connaught with inset town plan of Galway.
“Performet by John Speede and are to be solde in Popes Head Alley
against The Exchang by John Sudbury and George Humble, Anno
Dominis 1610” 15 x 20in. (38.10 x 50.80cm)
€400-€600 (£333-£500 approx)
SEE LOTS 549-559 FOR EARLY IRISH COINAGE FROM EDWARD I
TO KING WILLIAM.