Whyte's THE ECLECTIC COLLECTOR TIMED ON-LINE AUCTION 18 APRIL 2026

106 166 1916 (22 April) a telegram announcing the start of The Rising to the American Press. A UNIQUE HISTORICAL DOCUMENT This is the Post Office original form, retrieved by British Intelligence officer, Major Frank Hall. The text, in code reads ‘Tom operated on today successfully, Margaret O’Sullivan’. ‘Tom’ is Thomas Clarke, the main proponant and senior officer of the Rising. The sender’s name is an alias for Timothy Ring. The telegram, with 13 shillings worth of stamps attached, is addressed to Mrs J McGowan in Brooklyn, probably an alias for the famous Fenian, John Devoy in the USA. Accompanied by ‘Gaelic American’ newspaper of 29 April in which this telegram is mentioned in the main story on the front page as the first delivery of news of the rebellion. Accompanied by a note on Home Office London notepaper ‘Gaelic American of 29.4.16 & original cable form in the case of Timothy Ring...Major Hall, MI5’When Hall saw the mention of this telegram in the US press he retrieved this original from the Post Office. It was an exhibit in the prosecution of Timothy Ring who was responsible for its sending. Condition: Slight faults, very good. Provenance: Lieutenant Colonel Frank Hall & MI5; By descent to the previous owner; Their sale, Chorley’s, 22 March 2016, ex lot 525; Private collection. Estimate €15,000-€20,000 (approx £13,040-£17,390) Click here for more images and to bid on this lot 166