WHYTE'S THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR TIMED ON-LINE AUCTION 17 MAY TO 7 JUNE 2024

53 History THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR · FRIDAY 7 JUNE 2024 123 1916. A unique typescript ‘Under The Tricolour’ by Seán MacEntee, Irish Volunteer officer, later TD and government minister. Subtitled ‘A Record of Experience in Easter Week’, 68pp typescript, foolscap, and, according to a letter signed by MacEntee in 1967, which is with this lot, later adapted for publication as Episode At Easter, published by Gill, Dublin in 1966. A copy of the book, inscribed and signed by Seán MacAntee to Daniel MacEntee (see Provenance below). Provenance: Seán MacAntee; Tommy Alexander; Thence to Mr McErvel; Thence to Daniel McCrea; Private collection; Whyte’s, 21 May 2022, lot 214; Estate of the purchaser. Condition: Typescript somewhat dishevelled but text is complete and very legible, other items are fine. MacEntee had orginally given the book to Tommy Alexander, who, although a Unionist, was a friend of MacAntee’s father and fellow member of Belfast Corporation and he intervened in MacAntee’s Court Martial and helped have his death sentence commuted. According to the letter of 8 August 1967 MacAntee started writing the book while in Lewes Gaol after the Rising and he completed the first draft while in Gloucester Gaol in 1918. He made a few copies, one of which was given to the Alexander family. A most interesting lot. Seán Francis MacEntee (1889 – 1984) was an active trade unionist in Belfast where he was born and educated, and served as an Irish Volunteers officer in the 1916 Rising, sentenced to death, commuted to imprisonment. He was vice-Commandant of the Belfast Brigade IRA during the War of Independence. He served as a TD from 1918 to 1969. He was later a Fianna Fáil politician who served as Tánaiste from 1959 to 1969, Minister for Social Welfare from 1957 to 1961, Minister for Health from 1957 to 1965, Minister for Local Government and Public Health from 1941 to 1948, Minister for Industry and Commerce from 1939 to 1941, Minister for Finance from 1932 to 1939 and 1951 to 1954. At the time of his death in 1984, he was the last surviving member of the First Dáil. Estimate €1,000-€1,500 (approx £850-£1,280) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot 123