antiquesandartireland.com

Information about Art, Antiques and Auctions in Ireland and around the world
  • ABOUT
  • About Des
  • Contact

    • Posts Tagged ‘PURCELL AUCTIONEERS BIRR’

    LANDMARK IRISH BOOK AT AUCTION IN BIRR

    Saturday, May 23rd, 2026

    The first edition of the first book published by an Irish author. UPDATE: THIS MADE €10,000 AT HAMMER

    A landmark in Irish bibliography will lead the sale by Purcell Auctioneers in Birr on May 27.  The first edition of the first book by an Irish author to write for the printing press rather than the scriptorum is estimated at €10,000-€15,000. Maurice O’Fehily: Questiones Subtilisme Scoti Metaphysicam Aristotelis (Most Subtle Questions of Duns Scotus on the Metaphysics of Aristotle) was published in Venice on November 20, 1497.  It is thus an inculabula, the term which refers to the earliest printed works up to the year 1500. Maurice O’Fehily was born in Baltimore, Co. Cork.  The  Franciscan friar, theologian and author was appointed Archbishop of Tuam in 1506 and died in 1513. 

    A 15th century medieval legal manuscript written in middle French or law French from the library of Sir Thomas Phillipps (1792 – 1872) made €36,000 and original ordnance survey maps of Co. Louth from 1835 made €10,500.

    Tags: , ,
    Posted in AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES, Miscellaneous | No Comments »

    JEWELS AND BOOKS AT O’REILLY’S AND PURCELL AUCTIONEERS

    Sunday, December 7th, 2025

    A c1900 enamel, sapphire and rose quartz brooch by Carlo and Arthur Giuliano at O’Reilly’s of Francis St., Dublin. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    Jewellery and books make acceptable Christmas presents so two sales on December 10 have potential to offer inspiration at across the board price points.  Estimates at O’Reilly’s of Francis St., Dublin – who will offer 511 lots at a live and online sale  – range from €25-€80 for a collection of costume jewellery, an Irish sterling silver signet ring and an Egyptian revival pill box to €42,000-€52,000 for a round cut diamond solitaire of 5.35 carats and €34,000-€40,000 for a diamond line bracelet with radiant cut stones.  The selection in between these figures ranges from rings, necklaces and brooches to watches, earrings and a 1947 Mexican 50 peso gold coin.

    More than 600 lots, from limited, rare and signed first editions to Marvel comics and works of sporting and antiquarian interest, will come under the hammer at Purcell Auctioneers in Birr.  The sale will be led by a 1920 book of Irish Fairy Tales by James Stephens with illustrations by Arthur Rackham (€1,750-€2,250).  A rare catalogue from the May 1939 sale of 2,711 lots from Ashford Castle by Jackson, Stops and McCabe (€200-€300), a programme from Ireland’s Grand Slam winning match against Wales on March 13, 1948 (€350-€600), Marvel’s Amazing Spiderman from 1984 featuring the first appearance of his black suit (€300-€400) and a signed first edition of Normal People by Sally Rooney (€200-€250) are among the highly collectible lots.

    The programme for Ireland’s 1948 Grand Slam winning rugby match at Purcell Auctioneers in Birr. UPDATE: THIS WAS UNSOLD

    Tags: ,
    Posted in AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES, Miscellaneous | No Comments »

    THE NUREMBERG CHRONICLE OF 1493 MAKES €35,000 IN BIRR

    Wednesday, November 26th, 2025

    INCUNABULA: The Nuremberg Chronicle by Anton Koberger, 1493 SOLD FOR €35,000 at hammer

    One of the most important German incunables (a book printed before 1501) and the most extensively illustrated book of the 15th century made a hammer price of €35,000 at Purcell Auctioneers in Birr today. The Nuremberg Chronicle by Anton Koberger dates to 1493, the very first edition Latin in Gothic Rotunda type. A Pictorial History of the World, the Nuremberg Chronicle was written over several years by the doctor and book collector, Hartmann Schedel, who was commissioned by two Nuremberg merchants. It was originally published in Latin in an edition of around 1400-1500. The Chronicle also incorporates geographical and historical information on European countries and towns. The narrative is divided into 11 parts – the so-called world ages, and is profusely illustrated by images of biblical and historical events, and topographical views of towns and countries in Europe and the Middle East, including Jerusalem and Byzantium.  It contains the bookplate of The Right Honourable Robert Henry Meade 1879 (Meade GCB, was the second son of the 3rd Earl of Clanwilliam and Lady Elizabeth Herbert. Clanwilliam, an Irish peer, had served as Private Secretary to Lord Castlereagh and subsequently as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.).

    Tags: ,
    Posted in AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES, Miscellaneous | No Comments »

    AN IRISH REVOLUTIONARY’S APPROACH TO THE FEIS OF 1904

    Sunday, February 16th, 2025

    The book sale by Purcell Auctioneers in Birr on February 19 features The Exodus, a sacred cantata with words by activist, poet and playwright Thomas MacDonagh of Cloughjordan, a signatory of the 1916 Proclamation and music by B Palmieri.  Published in London in 1904 it was for the Feis Ceoil and is estimated at €220-€440.  The auction includes a selection of Irish and world interest books, antiquarian books, maps and ten lots of sporting memorabilia. UPDATE: THIS MADE 120 AT HAMMER

    Tags: ,
    Posted in AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES | No Comments »

    THE LIBRARIES OF AN ILLUSTRIOUS IRISH POLITICAL AND POETIC FAMILY

    Monday, April 11th, 2022
    The Long Affair by Conor Cruise O’Brien signed; The Great Melody by Conor Cruise O’Brien; The same Age As the State by Máire Cruise O’Brien; Memoir by Conor Cruise O’Brien; First In Peace By Conor Cruise O’Brien UPDATE: THIS LOT MADE €40 AT HAMMER

    These five books come up at lot 102 at the sale by Purcell Auctioneers of Birr of the libraries of Conor Cruise O’Brien, his wife Maire Mhac an tSaoi and her father Sean MacEntee on April 27. The estimate for the lot is 40-80. There will be 608 lots in total and the catalogue is online. The sale kicks off with a set of four volumes of The Annals of Ulster, followed by The LIfe and Work of Sigmund Freud.

    Tags: , , ,
    Posted in AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES | No Comments »

    SINGLE OWNER COLLECTION AT PURCELL ONLINE AUCTION

    Monday, April 27th, 2020

    THIS Tiffany design table lamp, around 18 and a half inches tall, is among the lots at the online sale by Purcell Auctioneers of Birr, Co. Offaly on April 29. It is estimated at 100-180. There are 412 lots in this single owner collection sale of militaria, jewellery, collectibles, porcelain, silver, advertising and musical instruments. The sale is online at Easy Live auctions.

    UPDATE: THE LAMP MADE 150 AT HAMMER

    Tags: ,
    Posted in ART, AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES | No Comments »

    LUTTRELSTOWN SALE RECALLED AT BIRR ONLINE AUCTION

    Monday, April 20th, 2020

    A hardback edition of Christie’s catalogue for the 1983 Luttrelstown Castle contents auction is among the lots at the online only sale of Irish interest books, journals, periodicals, pamphlets and journals by Purcell Auctioneers of Birr on April 22. It is estimated at 30-50. Among the contents of Luttrelstown was a carpet made for Czar Nicholas I of Russia. David and Victoria Beckham married at Luttrelstown in 1999. There are 598 lots in the sale including a second edition of Finnegan’s Wake by James Joyce and Humanity Dick by Shevawn Lynham. The catalogue is online at easyliveauction.com

    Contents of Luttrellstown Castle Sale 26th to the 28th September. 1983

    Tags: ,
    Posted in AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES, Miscellaneous | No Comments »

    PROVINCIAL SILVER, COINS AND BANKNOTES AT PURCELL SALE

    Tuesday, May 8th, 2018

    There will be a specialist auction of Limerick, Cork, Dublin, Scottish and English silver, Irish coins, tokens, banknotes and militaria at Purcell Auctioneers of Birr on May 9 at 2 p.m.  The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection:

    Rare Pair of Late 18th/Early 19th Century Limerick Silver Serving Spoons, marked Sterling and with mark of Maurice Fitzgerald (800-1,200)

    rish Silver Ring Dish, Hallmarked Dublin c.1915, by Wakeley & Wheeler, c.280gram (400-600)

    Isle Of Man Onchan Internment Camp Token 6 Pence (10-20)

    Ireland Ploughman £5 The National Bank 6-5-29 (400-600)

    Tags: ,
    Posted in AUCTIONS, COLLECTIBLES | No Comments »