THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR 6 APRIL 2025

128 207 1910. Irish Country Songs - Kitty Collins’ copy (sister of Michael Collins) Hughes (Herbert). Irish Country Songs. Boosey, London 1909, folio, original printed wrappers, 77 pp, first edition. SIGNED BY HUGHES on title page, and inscribed below by Michael Collins’ youngest sister Kitty, ‘Autographed by Herbert Hughes for / Kitty J. Collins, July 20th 1910. / 5 Netherwood Rd. / W. Kensington. London W.’ Condition: Lacking rear wrapper; spine worn, front wrapper and early pages a bit dog-eared from repeated use, but generally in good condition. Stamp on title page of Breffni / Devon Park / Galway, Kitty’s later address as Mrs. Sheridan. In a custom made folding box. A significant collection and a major contribution to the Irish cultural awakening, the first to publish such favourites as ‘The Verdant Braes of Skreen’, ‘The Next Market Day’, ‘I know my Love’, ‘Down by the Sally Gardens’ [the original folk-version, later appropriated by Yeats], etc. etc. Hughes, born in Belfast, studied music in London, and was an early member of the Irish Folk Song Society. He was a founder of the Dungannon Club with Bulmer Hobson, and may have been briefly in the IRB. Kitty was the youngest of Michael Collins’ four sisters and the closest to him in age. The eldest sister, Helena, entered a convent as Sister Mary Celestine; the other three at various times shared the Kensington flat with Michael Collins, who lived there from 1906 till he returned to Ireland in 1916. These were the formative years, when he joined the G.A.A., the Gaelic League, Sinn Fein and the I.R.B. In a house full of young people, there were probably sing-songs at the weekend, and while one cannot guarantee that Michael Collins used this volume, it seems very likely that he did. Estimate €800-€1,000 (approx £670-£830) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot 207 208 1922 Irish Free State commemorative gilt badge. In the form of a Tara brooch, gilt with IRISH FREE STATE, pin back. Silver versions are also known. Issued to commemorate the inauguration of the Irish Free State on 6 December 1922. Scarce. Condition: Very good Estimate €200-€300 (approx £170-£250) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot 208