1. Foster, Vere [Henry Louis / Lewis] / [Emily Albinia “Alba” Foster] / [Georgiana Duchess of Devonshire / Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire].

Amazing Vere Foster-Collection including Educational Materials and as a centerpiece the “Presentation Copy of “The Two Duchesses” with Autograph / Manuscript – Letter by Vere Foster to his niece, Emily Albinia “Alba” Foster. With a stunning, unpublished, two-page-letter, revealing several important details about the immediately favorable reviews and reception of the book [″in the Daily Telegraph”] and Vere Foster’s disdain about some criticism from one J.Donohue [which led to an alteration in the second edition of the book]. Vere Foster is also expecting a review to appear in the “Athenaeum” but reports “the Athenaeum has nothing yet”. Vere Foster apologizes to his niece for the delay in sending the book and explains that he had left 12 “parcels″£ with Blackie’s agent and gave instructions to send them but a few days later found they had been “untouched”. / The Two Duchesses – Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire / Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire – Family Correspondence of and Relating to Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire / Elizabeth, Duchess of Devonshire, Earl of Bristol (Bishop of Derby), The Countess of Bristol, Lord and Lady Byron, The Earl of Aberdeen, Sir Augustus Foster Bart, and Others, 1777-1859. [See Full list of items which are part of this collection, on our website under the topic “Libraries & Collections”].

First Edition. London / Glasgow and Dublin, Blackie & Son Limited, 1898. Octavo (15 cm x 22 cm). Pagination: Frontispiece, IX, [3], 497 pages with 18 Illustrations (including frontispiece and one Vignette of the two Duchesses opposite page 1). Hardcover / Original, publisher’s green cloth with gilt lettering on spine. Very good condition with some minor signs of wear only. This is an astonishing find for the Vere Foster Research Community and the letter gives significant insight into the importance the publication had for him, its reception as seen by Vere Foster and it solves the riddle why an altertaion was necessary for the second edition [which Vere Foster explains in a brief note to the reader at the beginning of the second edition]. The heartfelt inscription to his niece Albinia Foster is also of great importance and to our knowledge the only presentation-copy of this book on the international market for the several decades we can look back at auction records.

2. Arbuthnot, John / [Daniel Conner Library].

Tables of Antient Coins, Weights and Measures – Explained And Exemplified in Several Dissertations [Including: “A Dissertation concerning the Doses of Medicines given by Ancient Physicians” / Including “Of the Jewish Coins in which their weights are likewise considered”]. The Second Edition – To which is added, An Appendix, containing Observations on Dr.Arbuthnot’s Dissertations on Coins, Weights and Measures by Benjamin Langwith.

London, Printed for D. Browne, without Temple-Bar; A.Millar, in the Strand; and J.Whiston and B.White, in Fleet-Street, 1754. Quarto (24 cm x 29 cm). Collation [complete as called for by Index]: Title, 11 unnumbered pages, 327 pages plus 18 plates (partly folded) with Weights, Measures and Values of Several Foreign Coins explained. Original 18th-century binding, recently rebacked in 18th-century-style by two english master-bookbinders. Excellent condition with only minor signs of external wear. Front free endpaper with faded dampstain. Only very minor signs of foxing. Some minor wormhole – damage to the inner margins but not effecting the text. Wide margins. Extremely Rare Publication, now beautifully restored ! From the library of Daniel Conner (Connerville / Manch House), with his Exlibris / Bookplate to pastedown.

3. [Bellin, Jacques Nicholas / Senex, John / Ogilby, John]

The Roads through England or Ogilby’s Survey. Revised, improved and reduced by Senex. [Enlarged Edition of John Ogilby’s 1675 published “Britannia”] Distinctly laid down on onehundred & one Plates with the addition of some Roads newly drawn and several corrections of more general use to Travellers. [Including an Appendix with Cityplans of London (double-page), Plymouth, Shrewsbury, Yorck (York), Chester, [Scene of Carrick-Fergus (Ireland)], Waterford, Oxford, Leith [Edinburgh], Harwich, Scenery of Edinburgh / Itinéraire de toutes les routes de l ‘Angleterre. Revues corrigées, augmentées & réduites par Senex en 101 Cartes. [Titlepage bilingual in french and english].

Paris, Desnos, 1766. Quarto (30 cm x 22.5 cm). Collation complete: Bilingual titlepage, 12 double-page maps of England, partly beautifully border-coloured, 6 unnumbered pages of Index with distances in miles, one (1) General Map of England (″Carte Generale” of Engand by D’Ogilby), 101 full-page maps of routes/streets, Engraved titlepage for the Appendix, One (1) double-page of explanations for the London-City-Plan, 17 beautiful maps and engravings of a variety of english cities, also with a section on Ireland (Dublin, Waterford, Kinsale, Galway, Limerick). Original 18th-century contemporary calf with gilt lettering on spine and on five raised bands. The Volume is now protected in Collector’s Mylar. Very good+ condition with only minor signs of external wear. Some rubbing and corners slightly bumped but overall excellent. Interior near fine with only the slightest occasional spotting. Extremely Rare and even rarer in this condition !

4. [Irish Traditional Boat Building / Manuscript Day-book Passage West] Roberts, Capt. R.E.

Manuscript Folio Day-book of Passage West (County Cork) Boat-builder, Captain R.E. Roberts [direct relation of relative of Capt. R.R. Roberts of ‘The Sirius’]. With original correspondence, manuscript and typed letters to Roberts, Drafts of his replies and notes on wishes of clients regarding the building of Boats, delivery of Oars, detailed wishes of clients for the building of boats. Orders which reached Roberts range from Yachts and their accoutrements to Punts and Dinghies. Clients included C.W. Read, solicitor (insurance claim for gangway accident on the S.S. Amarglin), Miss Hill (‘daughter of H. Hill, Architect, regarding the Yacht “Yodash”), A.J. Wolfe (Yacht “Marion”), J.F. Quain of Ardmore etc. (see further details below).

Passage West (County Cork), 1939-1940. Folio (21.5 cm wide x 31.5 cm high). 242 pages of an alphabetized Ledger of which 48 pages are full of manuscript-entries and numerous other pages have been used to tip-in letters which Roberts received from clients. With numerous further letters, postcards loosely inserted. Original Hardcover. Binding in rough but still firm condition with stronger signs of external wear. Fantastic example of a Day-to-Day Order-Book of an irish Traditional Boat Builder, active in the war-years of 1939 and 1940. Captain R.E. Roberts Boat-building Business, being a direct relative of R.R.Roberts (″The Sirius”), is a great example of traditional succession in irish craftsmanship. The Day-book gives us insight into the wishes of clients, pricing, quotes and reason of orders and how on the one hand irish Traditional Boat-Building was revered abroad and also greatly supported and sought after by the local irish population. Roberts’ Boat-Building-company also had contracts from overseas and the correspondence reflects the hard times and imminent outbreak of war, which plays a role in the worries of Robert’s clients and must have had an enormous impact on his company. Client W.R.ffrench Mullen speaks in a letter from April 15th, 1939 of the fear of not being able to come and meet his boatbuilder: “I am (unless Europe boils up before in the next forty-eight hours) coming over on about a fortnights leave, leaving London Saturday next.” In another letter from May 2nd, 1939, ffrench Mullen hopes “the boat is progressing well” and that the company of D.O’Brien Corkery & Co. can deliver it in their lorry to Kenmare. Roberts notes about this client in his day-book an important message to one of his builders: “My client says he knows nothing about sailing – would you suggest that the area of Sails be in the Small Side for Safety – the boat is for use on the Kenmare River”. Roberts notes about another client, Mrs. Howell of Fountaintown, who ordered a 11ft boat for children on Sunday 4-9-38 for Easter 1939 – Quoted 22 per ft = £12 / Roberts notes about “Miss Hill from Monkstown (daughter of Lt.Hill Architect) ordered 7-1-39 Centre Board Boat, Spirit Sail (brown), oars, rudder, Name on transome “YOLDASH”, varnished top sides painted underneath – agreed price £16 – To be ready for Easter Holidays – Took Boat away 7-4-39 – pleased”. / More details on other orders below.

5. [Luckombe, Philip / Smith, Charles].

Luxury Reprint of “The Compleat Irish Traveller” [With high quality Reproductions of the 31 original Plates of detailed Maps of County Cork in the 18th century, County Kerry in the 18th century and Waterford in the 18th century, as well as some of the earliest engravings of Irish Towns here for the first time reproduced as beautiful Artworks for framing and housed in a special, handmade Folder. The publication was just recently enlarged with a detailed, Topographical Index (July 2023)]. Complete Title: “The Compleat Irish Traveller, containing A general Description of the most Noted Cities, Towns, Seats, Buildings, Loughs &c. in the Kingdom of Ireland, Interspersed with Observations on the Manners, Customs, Antiquities, Curiosities and Natural History of that Country. With Elegant Copper Plates”. [With 31 original Plates after Charles Smith, including Frontispiece, this Reprint / Facsimile is the result of 10 years of research and purchase of three (3) original versions of the First Edition from the year 1788. The first Editions known to Inanna Rare Books all had different quantities of Plates and Maps included. This Reprint by Inanna Rare Books has been produced from an extremely clean version of the original and shows the most complete set of illustrations and XL-Size Maps and Artworks we could find in any of the original editions. The publication shows not only Maps of County Cork, County Kerry and County Waterford but also Views of Irish Cities and Towns in these Counties of the Province of Munster and besides the wonderful Historical Plan of Cork City this set also includes the very rare Plan of the “Grand Canal from Dublin to the River Shannon” (see detailed list of all the illustrations present at the end of this description)].

Luxury Limited-Edition-Reprint of the First Edition by Luckombe in 1788. Two Volumes plus extra Folder with 31 Plates reprinted as Artworks for framing. Skibbereen (County Cork), Inanna Rare Books Publishing, 1788. Octavo (13.5 cm x 21 cm). Pagination: Volume I: Frontispiece, engraved Titlepage, XXX, 189 pages plus recently published Index (July, 2023) / Volume II: Engraved Titlepage, 263 pages plus recently published Index (July, 2023). Plus large, bespoke made Folder with thirtyone (31) Reproductions of the Maps, Plans and Illustrations which usually were folded inside this publication and now for the first time have been liberated from the book and were published as the beautiful works of art they are. Textvolume: Volume I and II of the text bound in one beautiful half-leather-volume with gilt lettering on spine, bound in the style of the 18th century / Illustrations-Folder with 31 reprinted illustrations of Towns and Maps of Ireland but mainly of Munster, bound in bespoke made half-cloth with paper-covered boards and pasted Reprint of the original titlepage. Excellent, new condition. One of only 300 printed. [Inanna Rare Books – Reprint & Facsimile – Series].

6. Wilkes, John / Bingley, William.

The North Briton – Revised and Corrected by the Author. Illustrated with Explanatory Notes and A Copious Index of Names and Characters. In Two Volumes (Revised Edition of Volumes I and II – Containing: No. 1 – No.45 – Published London, 1766) / [Plus: The North Briton – Volumes III – Printed for E. Sumpter, London and Dublin, 1763 (Containing No.46 from May 28, 1763 – No.68 on October 27th, 1763) & The North Briton – Volume IV – Printed for W[illiam] Bingley, London and Dublin, 1769 (No.46 from November the 12th, 1763 – No. 66 (or XX (20) of the Continuation) from September 17, 1768].

Mixed Editions bound uniformly [First Edition and Corrected Editions together]. Four Volumes (Bound in Three). London and Dublin, E.Sumpter & Anonymously, 1763 – 1769 Octavo (10 cm x 16,5 cm). Pagination: Volume I and II: 269, [5] pages including Index with two title-pages but continued pagination / Volume III: 216 pages / Volume IV: 288 pages. Hardcover / Original 18th century leather with gilt numbering on spine and new spine-labels , created to style of the 18th-century. Excellent condition with some minor signs of wear only. From the library of Edward Supple, [most likely the Edward Supple from Supple’s Court, Castlemartyr, County Cork], with his name to titlepages. A very rare set !

7. [Webb, William Livingston / United Irishmen] [Muralt, Béat Louis de (1665-1749)].

Lettres sur les Anglois et les François et sur les Voiages [Voyages].

Three Volumes bound in Two (complete set). [Paris], 1726. Small-Octavo (10 cm x 16 cm). 200, 200, 224 pages. Hardcover / Original 18th century leather with gilt lettering on spine. New Spine-Label applied to Volume I. Both Volumes housed in a bespoke built Solander Box. Some minor rubbing. Provenance: From the library of a member of the 1798 Rebellion under Wolfe Tone, William Livingston Webb, with Webb’s name in ink to the titlepage of Volume I and his name also to the first page of Volume II. Webb notes in Volume two that he purchased the books in Lille. While other Protestant Leaders of the Rebellion were hanged, William Livingston Webb was exiled. With a manuscript-poem in english and remarks in french, citing “Voltaire” to rear endpaper of Volume II: “Les Tome auteur n’art de l’esprit qui autart qu’il enfant, ny le recherchant jamais pensent avec priment avec clarte” (?) – Voltaire (?).

8. Staunton, Sir George / Lord Macartney.

An Authentic Account of an Embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China [First Dublin Edition with 34 full-page-plates]; Including Cursory Observations Made, and Information Obtained, in Travelling Through That Ancient Empire, and a Small Part of Chinese Tartary. Together with a Relation of the Voyage undertaken on the Occasion by his Majesty’s Ship ‘The Lion’, and the Ship ‘Hindestan’ in the East India Company’s Service, to the Yellow Sea, and Gulf of Pekin [sic]; as well as of their return to Europe. With Notices of the several places where they stopped in their way out and home: being the Islands of Madeira, Teneriffe and St.Jago, the Port of Rio de Janeiro in South America; the Islands of St.Helena, Tristan da Cunha and Amsterdam, the Coast of Java and Sumatra, the Nanka Isles, Pulo-Condore and Cochin-China. Taken chiefly from the Papers of his Excellency, the Earl of Macartney, Knight of the Bath, his Majesty’s Embassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Emperor of China; Sir Erasmus Gower, Commander of the Expedition and other Gentlemen in the several Departments of the Embassy.

Two Volumes (complete set). Dublin, Printed for P.Wogan, R.Cross, P.Byrne and others, 1798. Octavo. Volume I: XV, 449 pages with 8 full-page plates / Volume II: XVIII, 430 pages, with 26 full-page-plates and including an Appendix. Hardcover / Original, early 19th century half leather with original spinelabels. Bindings firm and strong but rather worn. Bookplate of Richard Meade, Ballymartle, to the pastedown of Volume I. Overall in very good condition with some stronger signs of wear but with all the illustrations / engravings, called for in the Dublin Edition.

9. Raleigh, Sir Walter.

Sammelband of Writings by Sir Walter Raleigh: Remains of Sir Walter Raleigh : Maxims of State – Advice to his Son : His Son’s Advice to his Father. His Sceptick. Observations concerning the Causes of the Magnificiency and Opulency of Cities. [Separate Titlepage: Sir Walter Raleigh’s Observations touching Trade and Commerce with the Hollander and other Nations; proving that our Sea and Land Commodities inrich and strengthen other Countries against our own. With other Passages of High Concernment – London, Printed for Henry Mortlock at the Phoenix, 1702]. His Letters to divers Persons of Quality. [Separate Titlepage: The Prerogative of Parliaments in England, proved in a Dialogue between a Counsellor of State and a Justice of Peace. London, Printed for Henry Mortlock at the Phoenix, 1702]. With the Addition of some Letters never Printed before.

First Edition. London, Printed for W.Mears, F.Clay and D.Browne, without Temple-Bar, 1702-1726. 9 cm x 16 cm. Frontispiece, [3], 342 pages. Hardcover / Modern half-leather with gilt lettering on spine and paper-covered boards. Restored and recently bound to contemporary, early 18th-century-style by an english masterbinder. Very good condition with only minor signs of external wear. The Frontispiece restored and draped to modern paper. Interior clean and in excellent condition. Extremely scarce publication from the library of Daniel Conner (Connerville / Manch House), even though there is no sign of it like a bookplate etc.

10. [O’Connor, Roger] Captain Rock.

Letters to His Majesty, King George the Fourth. [This is the Volume owned by the Conner – Family of Manch House and it bears the Bookplate of Henry Daniel Conner].

London, Published by B. Steill, 1828. Small Octavo. 372 (of 378 pages with six pages missing from the Postscript). Hardcover / Private half – leather-binding. From the library of Daniel Conner & Henry Daniel Conner (Connerville / Manch House), with the Exlibris / Bookplate of Henry Daniel Conner to pastedown. Two additional names written inside the book. The rarest publication by Roger O’Conner, who wrote under the pseudonym “Captain Rock”, in which much of his families history and its connection to Irish History is revealed. The publication is full of autobiographical detail on Roger O’Connor and his family and Biographical History of Nobility and minor Nobility during O’Connor’s time. Roger O’Connor explains in a form of a biographical Dictionary within the book the many different functions and historical details of Earls, Marquis’, Viscounts and other men of merit in Ireland at the time.