Irish, English and international literature, first editions, signed editions, periodicals, photographs, GAA and other sporting memorabilia will come under the hammer at Fonsie Mealy’s auction at the Tara Towers Hotel in Dublin on May 30. The sale will include an original manuscript page from Finnegan’s Wake and first editions by James Joyce as well as Mosada, the first work by William Butler Yeats of which only 500 copies were printed. There is a first edition of John le Carre’s The Spy who came in from the Cold and a number of Harry Potter editions signed by J.K. Rowling and the cast of the films.
Sporting memorabilia includes a Co. Laois first and only All Ireland Hurling Final medal from 1915, a Co. Louth twelve medal collection awarded to Johnny Brennan who retired as a player in 1916, match programmes from the 1930’s to the 1950’s and a ticket to the infamous 1920 Bloody Sunday match at Croke Park. The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection:
The Louth GAA Medal collection awarded to Johnny Brennan 1905-1915 (15,000-20,000) UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD
The rugby ball reputed to have been used in 1948 when Ireland beat Wales to claim their first Grand Slam. (700-900) UPDATE: THIS MADE 500 AT HAMMER
A first (1938) edition of The Green Fool by Patrick Kavanagh (1,000-1,500) UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,000 AT HAMMER
A first edition of Flann O’Brien’s At Swim Two Birds (1,750-2,500) UPDATE: THIS MADE 6,200 AT HAMMER
The Tailor of Gloucester (1903) and other early Beatrix Potter editions (600-700) UPDATE: THIS MADE 500 AT HAMMER
A silver gilt Cumann na mBan lapel badge by Long, Cork (250-320) UPDATE: THIS MADE 400 AT HAMMER
All Ireland Hurling Final programme for 1946 (300-400) UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 200