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A collection of Somerville and Ross first editions sold for 750.

A collection of first editions of Somerville and Ross spanning more than 50 years made 750 at Fonsie Mealy’s rare book auction in Dublin on December 10.  With plain cloth bindings the collection ranged from the publication in 1893 of Through Connemara in a Governess Car to Maria and Some Other Dogs of 1949.  It included their classic Further Experiences of an Irish R.M. in 1908.

Irish literary figures featured strongly in a sale which realised more than 250,000 at hammer.  A signed copy of Patrick Kavanagh’s Collected Poems made 750, a “Choice” Irish Poetry Anthology including work by Beckett, Heaney,Boland,  Clarke and Kinsella, made 2,700, a first English edition of James Joyce’s Ulysses with errata sold for 1,500 and an original recording of James Joyce reading Anna Livia Plurabelle made 3,000.

The top lot of the auction related to Tipperary during the Great Famine and comprises an important record of the administration of a Tipperary workhouse during the famine.   The five manuscript volumes of workhouse minute books sold for 4,200 over a top estimate of 1,600.

Among the more unusual lots at Hegarty’s sale in Bandon, Co. Cork on December 10 is a rare pair of Irish Celtic Revival two handled vases.  They were made in Youghal and are stamped Youghal A.M.W.  The estimate is 1,000-2,000.  Another rarirty is an upholstered black carriage with original fittings.  The sale of over 400 lots is online. Here is a small selection.

A pair of Irish Celtic Revival two-handled vases, stamped Youghal A.M.W. (1,000-2,000).  UPDATE: UNSOLD AND UNDER NEGOTIATION.

A black carriage, upholstered in leather, with original fittings UPDATE: WITHDRAWN TO NEXT AUCTION

Oil on canvas by FELIX ZIEM [French 1821-1911] (5,000-10,000).  UPDATE: THIS MADE 5,800

A satinwood display cabinet by Maple and Co. (3,000-5,000)  UPDATE: THIS MADE 3,800

THE last sale of the year at O’Reilly’s of Francis St. in Dublin takes place on December 11.  At the higher end there is a set of South Sea Pears with diamond clasp and fitted Garrard box and some quality diamonds, like the three stone ring shown here.    There are plenty of potential Christmas presents too.  The catalogue is online.

A three stone diamond ring (20,000-25,000).

A South Sea Pearls necklace in Garrard case with diamond clip (15,000-16,000).

A silver charm bracelet inspired by Harry Potter and based on designs by J.K. Rowling comes up at Sotheby’s in London on December 10.  The Lumos Maxima bracelet comprises 12 charms, 11 of which depict a significant image from the magical world of the Harry Potter series: Harry Potter’s bolt of lightning; glasses and broomstick; a Golden Snitch; Dark Mark skull set with amethyst eyes; Slytherin locket; a winged key; The Tales of Beedle the Bard book; the Sorting Hat; the Deathly Hallows symbol and a wand, which acts as the fastener. The twelfth charm, the butterfly, is the logo of Lumos, the children’s charity J.K. Rowling founded in 2005. Lumos aims to end the systematic institutionalisation of children, a harmful practice that affects 8 million children worldwide.  It is estimated at £15,000-20,000 and will be auctioned in Sotheby’s English Literature, History, Children’s Books & Illustrations sale.  The charms were hand crafted in the silver workshops of Edinburgh jeweller Hamilton & Inches.

The Lumos Maxima bracelet.  UPDATE: SOLD FOR £20,000

Springsteen and Dylan – how antique is that?  They might not be antiques, but their work will feature at upcoming Sotheby’s  auctions in New York and London. A handwritten working manuscript of Born to Run, the Bruce Springsteen song that became an essential American anthem, comes up at Sotheby’s in New York on December 5.  The early version that charts the start of the 1975 hit is estimated at $70,000-100,000.

In London Bob Dylan’s 1966 lyrics from Most Likely to Go Your Way (and I’ll go mine) come up at Sotheby’s English Literature and History sale on December 10.  This coincides with an exhibition of Dylan’s art and sculptur at the Halcyon Gallery in Bond St. in London.  The lyrics are estimated at £30,000-50,000.

Bruce Springsteen’s Handwritten Working Manuscript To Born To Run ($70,000-100,000).  UPDATE:  THIS SOLD FOR $197,000

BOB DYLAN – MOST LIKELY YOU GO YOUR WAY (AND I’LL GO MINE)’, PARTIAL AUTOGRAPH MANUSCRIPT AND AUTHORIAL TYPESCRIPT (£30,000-50,000). UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD