44
WHYTES
SINCE 1783
,
293
Éamon de Valera doll by Lillian (‘Lily’) & Frances Whelan
A handmade doll with miniature chair and table. Frances and Lily
Whelan were the elder sisters of artist Leo Whelan and lived with him at
the family home (which doubled as a hotel) at 65 Eccles Street, Dublin.
The Whelan sisters were artists in their own right and designed, among
other items, dolls, puppets, miniature costumes, cushions, quilting, fire-
screens, table lamps, shades and mirrors. Their craftwork was the subject
of a very well received exhibition at the United Arts Club, 3 Upper
Fitzwilliam St., Dublin in June 1958 where, among the items shown, was
the Éamon de Valera doll offered in this lot. The show’s success is
recorded in newspaper cuttings and was described as an outstanding
exhibition of really fine craftsmanship” (Evening Main, 28 June 1958)
and “A delightful exhibition of works” (Irish Independent, 28 June
1958). See lots 374-377 for other dolls by the Whelan sisters.
8 x 4in. (20 x 10cm)
€
300-
€
500 (£250-£420 approx)
294
1921: Signatory to The Treaty: Robert Barton letter
Robert Childers Barton (March 1881–1975), an officer in The Royal
Dublin Fusiliers, was stationed in Dublin during the 1916 Easter Rising
and resigned in protest at the heavy-handed government suppression of
the revolt and joined the republican movement.
At the 1918 general election he was elected as Sinn Féin member for
West Wicklow. He was appointed Minister for Agriculture in Dáil
Éireann, later of Economic Affairs. Barton was one of the delegates,
along with his cousin Erskine Childers, to travel to London for the Treaty
negotiations. He reluctantly signed the Treaty on 6 December 1921,
defending it “as the lesser of two outrages forced upon me and
between which I had to choose.” He nevertheless was firmly committed
to the Irish Republic and despite signing the Treaty rejected it.
This letter “to my dear Hamilton” concerns an appointment of a judge -
“there are not many who jeopardised their future by giving judgement
on a National issue adverse to the Cosgrave party’s standpoint at a time
when the dice appeared to be loaded in Cosgrave’s favour”.
€
300-
€
400 (£250-£330 approx)
295
1922. Payment for Michael Collins’ aeroplane
1922 (12 June) Dáil Éireann cheque to Charles Russell, Director of Civil
Aviation for £82.14s.2d signed by General Richard Mulcahy, Chief of
Staff of the Provisional Government Army. This was to cover the
provision of an aeroplane. During the Anglo-Irish Treaty talks of 1921, a
Martinsyde Type A Mark II biplane was purchased and put on 24-hour
standby at Croydon Airport to allow Michael Collins to escape back to
Ireland if the talks failed. The plane was not needed for this mission,
and it became the first aircraft of the new National Army Air Service
arriving in June 1922. A unique document relating to the talks.
€
500-
€
700 (£420-£580 approx)
296
1922 (7 July) Michael Collins’ Proclamation of War against the Anti-
Treaty Forces
An tÓglac “STOP PRESS” letterpress broadsheet poster with “To Arms”
proclamation written by Collins, and announcing the setting up of new
Commands of the National Army as well as other announcement by the
Provisional Government. 20 x 15in. (51 x 38cm)
€
100-
€
150 (£80-£130 approx)
297
circa 1922: Large framed photograph of Michael Collins in uniform
A large framed photograph of Michael Collins in Irish Free State Army
uniform. An attractive piece, contemporary to the period of his death.
17 x 14in. (43 x 36cm)
€
150-
€
200 (£130-£170 approx)
298
1926: Michael Collins and The Making of A New Ireland by Piaras
Beaslaí
Original green cloth gilt. In two volumes 458pp and 484pp. First edition
published in 1926 by Phoenix Publishing Co. The first definitive and
authoritative biography of Collins by his comrade in arms Piaras Beaslaí.
Also with Collected Works of Pádraic H. Pearse, The Phoenix Publishing
Co. Ltd, Dublin, 236pp. Plays Stories Poems by P. H. Pearse, Talbot Press,
1950, 340pp. Man & Superman. A Comedy and a Philosophy by Bernard
Shaw, Constable and Co., London, 1928, 244pp. (5 items)
€
250-
€
350 (£210-£290 approx)
299
1922: Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith memorial booklet
62pp, Martin Lester, Dublin, 1922. A commemorative booklet published
shortly after the deaths of both men, profusely illustrated. In the
original Harry Clarke pictorial wrappers.
€
80-
€
100 (£70-£80 approx)
300
1922: Michael Collins and Arthur Griffith memorial booklet and
funeral print
62pp, Martin Lester, Dublin, 1922. A commemorative booklet published
shortly after the deaths of both men, profusely illustrated. In the
original Harry Clarke pictorial wrappers. Also with a large print showing
the funeral of Michael Collins passing College Green, issued with ‘The
Christmas Lady of the House” 1922.
€
80-
€
100 (£70-£80 approx)
301
1922. Cormac Ua Dalaigh, (“Charly” Daly), former commander of the
2nd Northern Division IRA, “An Appeal to My Comrades”
Two foolscap page mimeograph detailing offences by Free State troops
colluding with the “Orange Government” etc. “What is the difference
between Mick Collins and James Craig? Both are out to maintain the
Empire” etc. Also with this is Leo Whelan’s handwritten (on back of a
cigarette pack) account of “the evening of the attack on the Four
Courts” during which he met de Valera to arrange a sitting for a
portrait. (2)
€
80-
€
120 (£70-£100 approx)
302
1922-23: Irish Civil War interest illustrated newspapers and postcard
3 European illustrated newspapers with images relating to the Civil War
period. Comprising Le Petit Journal 2 July 1922 (Assassination of Henry
Wilson), La Tribuna Illustrata 7 May 1922 and La Domenica del Corriere
(21-28 January 1923). Also with a postcard of S.S. Cambria (later TSS
Arvonia). (4 items)
€
80-
€
100 (£70-£80 approx)
303
1920s: Republican publications including The Nation, The Fenian etc.
A collection of publications comprising of The Fenian War Issue No. 76,
The Nation 14 October 1922, Daily Bulletin 20 October 1922, Poblacht
na h-Éireann War News No. 9. Also with a printed propaganda
broadside comparing the numbers of ‘Soldiers of the Irish Republic’
executed by the British government and the Irish Free State, a printed
copy of the 1916 Proclamation, United Irishman Vol 7 No. 10 October
1955 and An Poblacht edition Vol VIII No. 39 4 November 1933.
(8 items)
€
100-
€
150 (£80-£130 approx)
304
1922 (22 January) I.R.A. raffle tickets for a suitcase
A pair of raffle tickets for “A Suit Case or its value £3 to be raffled for a
very deserving national cause on 22nd January 1922. Tickets 3d. each.
Winning No. in Evening Papers on 24th January” Marked lower left
“I.R.A.” (2 items) 2 x 3¼in. (5 x 8cm)
€
80-
€
100 (£70-£80 approx)
305
1922 (22 March) Poblacht na hÉireann War News Issue
Two single framed sheets from this issue and a single framed facsimile
sheet from the same issue. Also War News Nos. 25, 27 and 45, Anti
Treaty forces news sheets, all framed. (6 items)
€
150-
€
250 (£130-£210 approx)
