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1916 (24 April). THE PROCLAMATION OF THE IRISH REPUBLIC. An original example of this iconic
Irish historical document.
An original example of this historic document published by the Irish Volunteers and Irish Citizen Army
acting as “The Provisional Government of the Republic of Ireland” dated Monday 24th April 1916. This is
the document that launched an uprising that changed Ireland forever. Comparable to the Declaration of the
United States of America, it is an historic relic of immense importance.
John O’Connor in The Story of the 1916 Proclamation, Abbey Press, Dublin 1986 stated that there were 17
examples extant, of which at least six are in public institutions such as Dáil Éireann, The National Museum
and University College Dublin. Two also exist in British Government archives and there is one in the Royal
Collection in Buckingham Palace. Since O’Connor published his monograph about a dozen others have come
to light from the original printing of less than 500. Most were destroyed during and after the Rising. Printed
on poor quality paper, those pasted to outdoor locations disintegrated easily.
This example has all the typographical characteristics listed by O’Connor q.v. ,and J. J. Bouch in The Repub-
lican Proclamation of Easter Monday 1916,(A paper read before the Bibliographical Society of Ireland, 25
March 1935, Three Candles Press, Dublin 1936, reprinted 1954). Printed by letterpress on porous paper of a
greyish white shade. the printed area is 29 by 18.25 inches.
This Proclamation was restored and conserved to museum standard in 2001, and is framed and glazed. It is a
fine specimen of a truly historic document of immense importance in the history of Ireland.
30 x 20in. (76.20 x 50.80cm)
Provenance: Private collection; Whyte’s,
13 January 2001, lot 236;
Where purchased by the present owner.
Estimate €150000-€250000 £117000-£195000
Large Image & Place Bid Lot 184