93 / 183
HISTORY & LITERATURE 13 MARCH 2016
240
Eamon de Valera, Prison autograph book, Dartmoor, 1917.
The soft-cover note book decorated on the fly-leaf with a harp surrounded by shamrock beneath a banner
“Faith and Fatherland”. Each of the thirty pages ruled into four sections with the name, address, prisoner
number and sentence in years filled out by each inmate, including de Valera himself. To some of these, de
Valera has added a code, ‘LX’ or ‘DX’. Among the entries are, Eoin MacNeill (prisoner Q207, “Saoghal” or
life, no code added); Piaras Beaslai and Count Plunkett. Loosly inserted in the notebook is a white crocheted
bookmark in the form of a cross, reputed to have been sent to de Valera in prison by his mother. Together
with photograph of Kathleen Veale with de Valera in Aras an Uachtarain.
4 x 4in. (10.16 x 10.16cm)
Provenance: The notebook was a gift from de Valera to Michael Veale, a War of Independence veteran. The
Irish Times Social and Personal column reports at least three visits by one or both of the Veales to Aras an
Uachtarain in the 1960s. Purchased by the present owner from Kathleen Veale, Michael’s widow, in 1971.
Estimate €3000-€5000 £2340-£3900
Large Image & Place Bid Lot 240