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FROM Robert Boyle, father of modern chemistry to Gulliver’s Travels author Dean Swift to James Joyce the Ricardi Moore Collection offers much of huge interest to book collectors. The 18th century gentleman’s library from Barne Park in Co. Tipperary is to be sold by Mealy’s on April 24.  More than 880 lots including many rarities will be offered at the Berkeley Court Hotel in Dublin.  Richard Moore (1716-1771), founder of the library at Barne Park, was High Sheriff of Tipperary in 1744 and  represented the borough of Kells in parliament from 1757 to 1768. His eldest son Thomas succeeded him and maintained his fathers interest, adding a number of books inscribed with his name.  The collection, though not particularly large, is impressive in its wide ranging interests and scholarly content.  This is the first of two days of sales by Mealy’s Rare Books (see post on antiquesandartireland.com for April 13).  The catalogue is on-line. Here is a small selection:

A 1760 edition of the works of Dr. Jonathan Swift (600-800). Click on image to enlarge. UPDATE: THIS MADE 1,100

Rare Composite Atlas, maps after De la Rochette, d’Anville, Kitchen & others, dated c. 1778-1810 (4,000-6,000). Click on image to enlarge. UPDATE: THIS LOT SOLD FOR 2,500.

Five Important Documents Relating to County Kildare 1569: Signed by The Earl of Kildare. (750-1,250). Click on image to enlarge. UPDATE: THIS MADE 2,400

A first American edition of Finnegan’s Wake,1939, (550-750). UPDATE: THIS MADE 600

A 1692 edition of Boyle's General History of Air (1,800-2,200). Click on image to enlarge. UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 6,500

Large Qing Dynasty "Immortal" brushpot. (Click on image to enlarge). UPDATE: THIS MADE £1,553,250

A Qing Dynasty jade brushpot discovered during a valuation sweep is a highlight of Sotheby’s sale of fine Chinese ceramics and works on art in London on May 16.  The Qianlong period white and russet jade “immortal” brushpot is notable for its large size and carved scenes from the land of immortals.  It is estimated at £250,000-350,000. An Imperial green jade dragon seal displays features which suggest it was originally produced in the 18th century and re-carved during the Guangxu reign for the Empress Dowager Cixi (1834-1908).  Cixi’s seals express prestige and power. It is estimated at £300,000-400,000.

Imperial green jade Dragon seal. (Click on image to enlarge). UPDATE: THIS MADE £313,250.

The 341 lots sale comprises two collections, the Jersey Jades which belonged to the Earl and Countess of Jersey and Qing monochromes from a private European collection. Robin Bradlow of Sotheby’s remarked: “We have curated this sale to offer some of the finest examples of Chinese ceramics and works of art available to the market today. The marvellous collection includes rare and important Ímperial ceramics, beautiful jades, Imperial seals and Qing monochrome wares – many with outstanding provenances”.

The auction is expected to realise more than £6.5 million.

UPDATE:  The sale brought in a total of £12.9 million.

Charles Stewart Parnell original photograph c1880 (200-300). UPDATE: THIS MADE 650

Whyte’s “History, Literature and Collectibles” auction in Dublin on April 21 comprises objects from three millennia. There are examples of Celtic gold ring money from 1200 B.C., numerous items on Irish history, a telegram about the sinking of the Titanic (see post on antiquesandartireland.comfor April 3, 2012) and memorabilia relating to the visit of President John Kennedy to Ireland in June of 1963.  Here is a small selection. The catalogue is on-line.

UPDATE: AROUND 80 per cent of lots were sold for a total of 350,000.  The Titanic telegram failed to find a buyer.

19th Century silhouette of Father Theobald Mathew in Cork City (400-600). UPDATE: THIS MADE 400

Scarce example of dated Youghal delft (500-700). UPDATE: THIS MADE 500

1961-63: John F Kennedy press photographs collection including Irish visit, this image taken in Ireland in 1963 with President de Valera and Taoiseach Sean Lemass. (200-300). UPDATE: THIS COLLECTION MADE 700

In Dublin there will be an auction of antique and vintage jewellery, silverware and paintings at O’Reilly’s of Francis St. on April 25.  It will feature around 480 lots, including a magnificent antique diamond and sapphire cluster pendant, solitaire rings, earrings and bracelets.  Among the silver is a limited edition Irish circular bowl with gold decoration depicting The Tain designed by Louis le Brocquy.  The catalogue is on-line.  Here is a small selection (click on any image to enlarge).

An Edwardian diamond and sapphire cluster pendant c1910, 18,000-22,000.

An 18 carat gold panel bracelet set with sapphires signed Brevetto, 1,200-1,400.

LOUIS LE BROCQUY HRHA, B. 1916, Limited edition, Irish circular silver bowl, 600-800.

This nine carat gold bracelet is estimated at 450-550.

Oscar Wilde's inscription on The Importance of Being Earnest A Trivial Comedy for Serious People. London: Leonard Smithers and Co. 1899 ($80,000-120,000). (Click on image to enlarge). UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR $362,250.

A dedicated first edition Japanese Vellum copy of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest A Trivial Comedy for Serious People comes up at Sotheby’s, New York on April 20.  It was given to Robert Ross, a profoundly important figure in Wilde’s personal and professional life first as a lover, then as a close friend, ardent supporter and finally literary executor.  It is inscribed by Wilde to Ross as follows:  “To the Mirror of Perfect Friendship: Robbie: whose name I have written on the portal of this little play. Oscar. Feb ’99”.

Upon hearing of his arrest for ‘indecent acts’ Ross broke into Wilde’s flat to rescue potentially incriminating papers before the police arrived. At the trail Ross managed to get a space on the route to the witness stand. And it was Ross who Wilde’s increasingly stunned and bewildered wife Constance would contact when her husband disappeared. This copy is a true rarity. Only 12 Japanese Vellum copies were made. Six are known and only one has appeared at auction in the past 30 years. It will feature in the sale of the library of Jaques Levy, who acquired it in 1946. It is estimated at $80,000-100,000.

UPDATE: IT SOLD FOR $362,250. The book was purchased by New York bookseller James Cummins.

A Titanic In Memoriam card at Mealy's is estimated at 120-180. (Click on image to enlarge). UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

Several items of Titanic memorabilia will come up on the second day of Mealy’s  auction at the Berkeley Court Hotel in Dublin on April 25.  Among them is a 2nd edition 1912 booklet about the disaster from Lloyd’s Weekly News, a report of the formal Board of Trade  investigation published by HMSO in 1913 and a memoriam card “In Sacred Memory of The Titanic”. Other items include postcards around the event, the Daily Mirror of April 16, 1912, two untransmitted Marconigrams from the S.S. Carpathia and a 12 page mass booklet for a memorial service at St. Paul’s Cathedral on Friday, April 19, 1912.

On the previous day Mealy’s will offer the Ricardi Moore Collection, the library of an 18th century Irish gentleman from Barne in Co. Tipperary.  It will feature rare books on subjects are diverse as science, mechanical engineeering, fortification, electricity, architecture, military history and genealogy.

Lloyd's Weekly News, The Deathless Story of the Titanic is estimated at 180-250. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

The Report of Formal Investigation of the disaster is estimated at 600-800. (Click to enlarge). UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD.

Dublin's GPO and Nelson's Pillar immediately after the Easter Rising of 1916. (Click on image to enlarge). THIS SET SOLD FOR 1,200.

RARE images of Dublin in the immediate aftermath of the Easter Rising of 1916 will be auctioned at James Adam on April 18.  More than 650 lots relating to 800 years of Irish political, literary and military history will feature in a sale to be conducted over two sessons.  There is a rare original printing of the 1916 Proclamation, the foundation document of the Irish State read by Patrick Pearse outside the GPO on Easter Monday 1916. Copies for an original print run of 2,000 were posted around the city, but most did not survive.  Adams reckon that not much more than 50 original copies exist. This one is estimated at 60,000-80,000.

Another rarity is the Easter Rising Medal and War of Independence Medal of  Commandant Larry Lardner – Commanding Officer of The Galway Brigade Irish Volunteers Easter 1916 and afterwards.  These are estimated at 8,000-12,000. The case of glass negative slides shows images of Dublin 96 years ago, after the 1916 Rising.  They were taken by J.M. Mitchell and estimated at 800-1,200.  A set of six photographic plates of the Black and Tans and other regular British Forces in Dublin is estimated at 300-500.

Easter 1916, Dublin.

The copy of the original Proclamation in this sale. (Click to enlarge). UPDATE: It sold for 100,000.

Larry Lardner's medals, front and back views. (Click on image to enlarge). THESE WERE UNSOLD.

Revolution in Dublin.

Dublin 1916. THIS COLLECTION OF BLACK AND TANS PHOTOGRAPHS SOLD FOR 550.

The fires of revolution in Dublin, 1916.