WHYTE'S THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR 15/16 MAY 2021

164 Books 403 Joyce, James. Signed handwritten verses. “Saint Patrick was a gentleman and came of decent people. | He built a church in Ireland and put on it a steeple”, and “Please to remember the Third of November, | Holy Hubert, huntsman and hound”, in green ink, each on a leaf from a desk calendar, 17 March and 3 November respectively, the quotations referring to the respective saints’ days, dated 1939 in another hand, laid down on a single leaf of blue paper Joyce follows both of these short ditties with a note that each is a traditional “Popular Song”. Joyce’s quotation for St Patrick’s day is the beginning of a street ballad referenced in Finnegans Wake (“Primas was a santryman and drilled all decent people”). Joyce’s song for St Hubert’s day, which he admits is a “Popular Rhyme (with variation)” adapts the traditional Guy Fawkes verse ”Please to remember the Fifth of November”, with reference to Hubert’s role as patron saint of hunters. Framed as one. 4.75 by 3in. (12.1 by 7.6cm) Condition: Slight stain at top right of St. Hubert page, otherwise fine, attractively framed. Provenance: August Suter; Thence by descent; Sothebys, 30 November 2018, lot 181; Private collection. Estimate €6,000-€8,000 (approx £5,220-£6,960) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot 403