1. [Somerville & Ross] / Verling, John / [Edith Somerville & Violet Martin].

Somerville & Ross – Portfolio of ten (10) original, large Etchings by John Verling [signed].

Ballydehob / Schull, John Verling & Schull Books, 1984. Folio – Sheets (38.2 cm x 28.5 cm). Ten original etchings in bespoke Folder with original tissue-guards. Original Hardcover-Folder with one additional, signed inlay-etching to frontcover. The ten etchings and the folder with the original inlay-art, are all in mint condition. The etchings all protected by their original tissue guards. A stunning publication of a wonderful West Cork – Artist. A must-have for all collector’s of rare and signed Somerville & Ross collectables, this find is simply an unusual occurance because the artwork was originally designed to be framed. One usually never finds this edition with the artwork still in its original folder !

2. [Curtayne, Alice] / McKevitt, P. / Lucey, C. / Conway, J. Jacobus / Christus Rex Society of Irish Diocesan Priests / Rísteard Ó Cíonga [Richard King as Illustrator] / etc.

Alice Curtayne as Contributor to Irish Periodicals / Journals / Digests. The collection aims for completion and collects not only issues of periodicals with contributions by Alice Curtayne but hopes to complete each set of periodicals to which Alice Curtayne contributed between the years of 1930 and 1980, in order to allow for cross-referencing of contributors, study cooperation between illustrators and Alice Curtayne, her influence and acceptance as early female contributor in a men’s world, possibly even deciphering pseudonyms under which Curtayne might have written or essays she might have contributed to but her name was omitted; in general: circumstances which have not been detected yet. The Collection is documented thoroughly in professional images and descriptions on our website and includes to date: I. Alice Curtayne as Contributor to “The Irish Digest”: 1. “The Irish Digest” from September 1940 – including the article: Alice Curtayne – “Lament of an Author” / II. Alice Curtayne as Contributor to “Christus Rex”: “Christus Rex” – An Irish Quarterly Journal of Sociology. A Collection of 24 issues of the important and underrated publication “Christus Rex” including: 1. Volume XX, No.4 of “Christus Rex”: Alice Curtayne – “The Council and Women” ]. / III. Alice Curtayne as Contributor to “The Furrow”: “The Furrow” – Monthly Journal published by the Leinster Leader, Naas and Edited by Rev. J.G.McGarry. A Collection of 56 issues of the Journal, including two issues with Curtayne – publications: 1. “Saint Patrick in his Confession” – (In: “The Furrow” from March 1951) and 2. “Marillac Manor” (in “The Furrow” from July 1959) and 3. “Ecumenism in Dublin” (In “The Furrow” from February 1966) / IV. Alice Curtayne as Contributor to “The Capuchin Annual”. Including: 1. Alice Curtayne – “For the Septcentenary of St.Anthony of Padua (1231 – 1931)” – [including a portrait photograph of Alice Curtayne] / 2. Alice Curtayne – “Five Irish Saints” (″The Living Patrick” / “Saint Colmcille – Irishman” / “Saint Brendan – The Navigator” / “Saint Ita” / “The Method of Saint Columbus” / (In: Capuchin Annual 1945-1946 – with Illustrations in color by Stained Glass Artist, Rísteard Ó Cíonga [Richard King].

Naas, Christus Rex Publications, 1949 – 1967. Octavo. 81 Issues with different amounts of pages and content. Overall c. 4800 pages. Original Softcover. Excellent condition with some minor signs of wear only. Some of the issues with annotations and some with a former library-stamp. Very rare run of these periodicals which invited contributions from other women writers like Ita Meehan.

3. Curtayne, Alice.

Alice Curtayne and “Studies – An Irish Quarterly Review” – Irish Quarterly Scholarly Journal, historically published since the year 1912 by The Educational Company of Ireland / The Talbot Press / Messenger Publications for the Jesuits of Ireland. A Collection of momentarily 53 issues plus Index (1912-1961) of the Journal, including currently one identified issue with an Alice Curtayne – publication: 1. “Dante” – (In: “Studies” Summer/Autumn – Issue 1965).

Dublin, The Educational Company of Ireland / The Talbot Press, 1912 – 1969. Octavo. 53 Issues plus Index, with different amounts of pages and content. Overall c. 2800 pages. Original Softcover. Very good condition with some issues with some stronger signs of wear but the majority of issues in firm and excellent condition. Some of the issues with annotations and some with a former library-stamp. Very rare run of this periodicals which invited contributions from other women writers like Mary M. Macken, Pamela Reilly, Helen Landreth, Eleanor Knott, Ethna Kavanagh, Lorna Reynolds, etc.

4. [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].

5. Gilpin, William. [Castle-Freke Library Bookplates]

Collection of four Volumes (bound in two) by Gilpin – All from the historical library at Castle Freke (Castlefreke, West Cork / Ireland). The Volumes include: I. & II. Observations Relative Chiefly to Picturesque Beauty, Made in the Year 1776, on Several Parts of Great Britain; particularly the High-Lands of Scotland. [Second Edition, with an “Account of the Prints” bound to the rear] / III. Observations on the River Wye and several Parts of South Wales &c. relative chiefly to Picturesque Beauty; Made in the summer of the Year 1770 (Third Edition). / IV. An Essay on Prints – [″The chief intention of the following work was to put the elegant amusement of collecting prints, on a more rational footing; by giving the unexperienced collector a few principles and cautions to assist him”] (Fourth Edition with the printed dedication “To the Honorable Horace Walpole in Deference to his Taste in the Polite Arts; and the Valuable Researches he has made to improve them; the following work is inscribed by his most obedient and very humble servant, William Gilpin”). [Volumes I & II with 40 original illustrations and vintage 18th century maps [correctly 39 illustrations and one table], for example of Loch Lomond and the Firth of Forth/ all illustrations are vintage mezzotint-plates].

Mixed Editions. Four Volumes (bound in two). London, Printed for R. Blamire, Strand, 1792. Octavo. Pagination: Volume I: XI, [1], 221 pages with 24 mezzotints / Volume II: 195, XVI pages with 16 mezzotints and an “Account of the Prints” as well as “Translations of Latin Passages” / [Volume III]: [River Wye]: XVI, 152 pages with 16 (of 17) full – page mezzotints / [Volume IV]: [An Essay on Prints]: XIII, [3], 174 pages plus XI pages Index and 1 page Errata. Hardcover / Early 19th century quarter – morocco with gilt lettering and ornament on spine. Both volumes bound in unison. Very good + condition with only minor signs of external wear. Pages 185 – 191 of Volume I with some stronger browning. Otherwise the interior very clean. All mezzotints in very good or even better condition. This is the original copy from the historical Castle-Freke Library in West Cork (Ireland), with two armorial bookplates to front and rear pastedown with the family’s motto ‘Pro Patria’. With two pages of manuscript annotations by a contemporary hand with a reference between the common name “Tarbet” in Scotland and a place-name in County Kerry in Ireland” (pages 13 of Volume II) / another entry is on page 12 of Volume II regarding the name-sake “Loch-Loung” for a Lake of ships in Scotland and Ireland.

6. [Bloody Sunday / Pamphlet plus Rare original Letters and Witness Statements of members of “The Association of Irish Priests” Priests who were eyewitnesses to the Bloody Sunday Events].

“Massacre at Derry” [Pamphlet] plus: Typped Letter and Typed Statements by Donal Flanagan (Secretary of the Central Committee of the Association of Irish Priests) and original Typescript-Statements by the Association of Irish Pries: Typescript 1: “Documentation on the Situation in the North of Ireland” [″Statement on ‘Violence’ by the Ulster Branch of the Association of Irish Priests”] (3 pages) / Typescript 2: “Statement issued by seven priests who were in Derry’s Bogside during the Shootings on 30th January 1972” (″We accuse the Colonel of the Parachute Regiment of wilful murder…..It is untrue that shots were fired at the troops in Rossville Street before they attacked….signed (typed) by Reverends Anthony Mulvey, Edward Daly, G.McLaughlin, Denis Bradley, Michael McIvor, Thomas O’Gara) / Typescript 3: “Letter of Reverend Terence M.O’Keefe, Secretary Ulster Branch, Association of Irish Priests (Published in ‘Irish Press’, 5 February 1972 (″May i be permitted the use of your columns to give account of what i personally witnessed in Derry on Sunday afternoon”….″hen the Paratroopers arrived to us, Fr. Bradley and myself were refused permission on three occasions to attend to the wounded and dying, this with the most foul abuse and some blows from rifle butts”…″I was brought to a lorry, batoned in into it and taken to the army base on the Strand road….I find myself with bruised legs, arm and some back pain…I was lucky….Many others from the second lorry-load had faces smashed and heads cracked during their journey to the army centre….I might, perhaps, be counted as a reasonably credible witness as a Roman Catholic Priest, a university lecturer (in philosophy) and at present Dean of the School of Humanities at the New University of Ulster. I suppose that at present my feelings are of sickness, disgust and, I am afraid, anger. All I can hope is that some time in the future forgiveness and love will replace these. Till then is it too much to ask that the truth be told and that Westminster face the question of responsibility for what I personally, can only see as callous and brutal murder?” (Signed (Typed): Terence M.O’Keefe) /

First Edition (possibly only edition). Derry & Maynooth, Civil Rights Movement & Letters and Staments form Priest of St.Patrick’s College (Maynooth) and the Association of Irish Priests (Eagras Sagart Eireann), 1972. Octavo. Pamphlet: 48 pages / Typed Letter and Statements: “Letter by Donal Flanagan”: 1 page / “Documentation on the Situation in the North of Ireland”: 3 pages / “Statement by Seven Priests”: 1 page / “Letter of Reverend Terence O’Keefe”: 2 pages. Stapled, original, illustrated softcover pamphlet and stapled Letters/Statements. Overall in very good condition with only minor signs of wear. Extremely rare Pamphlet but even rarer original documents from the Priest of Maynooth College in Protest of the events of Bloody Sunday and a general analysis of the Situation in the North (Sociological Analysis). Extremely scarce collection.

7. [Thom, Alexander] / [Famine Year / Famine Year Almanac].

Thom`s Irish Almanac & Official Directory for the Year 1845 [including “Peerage of Ireland with alphabetical Index”].

First Edition. Dublin, Alexander Thoma, 1845. Octavo (13 cm x 18.5 cm). VIII, 906 pages. Original Hardcover (Publisher’s blindstamped cloth with gilt lettering and ornament to spine). Very good and firm condition with some minor signs of wear only. This is one of the most important and rarest sources for Statistics in Ireland in 1845 and one year prior of The Great Famine [Gorta Mór / Irish Potato Famine].

8. Kenmare, Valentine Edward Charles Browne / The Irish Manuscripts Commission.

The Kenmare Manuscripts. Edited by Edward MacLysaght.

Dublin, Stationery Office, 1942. Slim Quarto (17 cm x 25 cm). XIV pages, 1 leaf, 517 pages, 1 leaf. Original Hardcover. Excellent condition with some minor signs of wear only. An extremely scarce publication.

9. [Haliburton, Thomas Chandler] Anonymous.

The Season-Ticket.

New Edition. London, Richard Bentley, 1861. Octavo (11,5 cm x 17 cm). 330 pages including Advertisement bound in front of the Volume for W.H.Smith & Son’s. Original Hardcover (Printed, paper-covered-boards. The original Volume now housed in a bespoke, recent Solander-Box. The binding a little shaky. The interior in excellent, extremely clean condition. Of utmost rarity. Already in the first chapter, Haliburton uses the technique of literary fiction in order to speak about the ability to travel everywhere (in mid 19th century)….″The Grand Tour now means a voyage round the Globe…” / Haliburton, known to have been “eager to promote immigration to the colonies of British North America” tries to entice to Travel. The Chapter “An Evening in Cork” talks about the narrator to “accompany my old college friend Cary to Monkstown in Ireland…..unlike my gruff and inhospitable countrymen, I advise you, when at Cork, to remain there, till you have ‘done’ the city and its environs and then to sail down the River…”.

10. [Cork – West Cork / County Kerry History Pre-Famine] Nicholson, Asenath.

Ireland’s Welcome To The Stranger or An Excursion through Ireland in 1844 & 1845, for the Purpose of Personally Investigating the Condition of the Poor.

First Edition. New York, Baker and Scribner, 1847. Small Octavo. XV, 456 pages plus 22 pages of a catalogue for the publisher Baker and Scribner in the rear. Hardcover / Original publisher’s cloth with gilt lettering on spine and ornament to covers. Recently, professionally restored. Very good condition with the usual signs of some browning and foxing to this publication. From the library of Lathrop Josiah Tracy, Honesdale, Pennsylvania (1825-1897). With his name to the halftitle. A very rare and important book !