291. Vallancey, Charles / Piers, Sir Henry [Provenance: Abraham Abell (Cork City)].

Collectanea de Rebus Hibernicis – Five-Volume-Set with thirteen (13) Numbers (I – XIII) plus “A Vindication of the Ancient History of Ireland” and “Anecdotes of Chess in Ireland”. [See full list of Numbers, Chapters and Illustrations below and detailed images on our website].

Dublin, Thomas Ewing, 1770 – 1790. Octavo (13,5 cm wide x 21,5 cm high). Pagination: Volume I (contains Numbers I, II, III, IV): Frontispiece-Portrait, XIV, [6 unnumbered pages of “Contents”], 636 pages, [2] pages with the contents-page misbound [2], and 24 pages on “The Brehon Laws of Ireland” to the rear of the Volume. Volume I includes three illustrations (including the Large Folding-Map of Meath)/ Volume II (contains Numbers V, VI, VII, VIII, IX): 562 pages and 10 illustrations (including the Large Folding-Plan of the City of Kilkenny) / Volume III (contains Numbers X, XI, XII): LXX, 682 pages with one illustration (being the Large Fold-Out-Map of “Antient Ireland” by William Beauford) and VI Tables on two large sheets in the rear of the Volume (containing Orthography/Names of Numbers in different Languages, Names of Numbers of some of the Indians of America etc. etc. compared to the antient Irish) / Volume IV (contains Number XIII of Collectanea de Rebus Hibernicis and “A Vindication of the Ancient History of Ireland” by Charles Vallancey”): LX, 161 pages (being the end of Number XIII), plus Pagination for “The Vindication of the Ancient History of Ireland”: Frontispiece-Map of Europe and Asia, XLVIII, 551 pages, followed by 16 unnumbered pages of an Index for “The Ancient History of Ireland”, followed by X (10) Plates (mainly fold-out plates with numerous illustrations for the “Ancient History of Ireland”, aslo included is a text-illustration “Inscription in the Cave of New Grange (page 212). / Volume V of Collectanea de Rebus Hibernicis: 368 pages plus Hardcover / Original 19th century full-leather with gilt lettering and ornament to spine. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear. Spine of Volume Three is coming apart. From the library of Cork Antiquarian Abraham Abell, with an inscription and original manuscript letter by his friend and “Brother Antiquarian”, John Bennett, 9 Academy St., 18th September, 1841.

292. [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.

293. Curtayne, Alice.

Alice Curtayne Collection: Alice Curtayne and “The Capuchin Annual”. A collection of essays, contributed by Alice Curtayne to one of Ireland’s most important Periodicals of the 20th century. The collection includes the early 1931 issue with the beautiful portrait of youthful Alice Curtayne. While the collection is still growing, unknown essays and contributions of her are surfacing [Please offer interesting material, letters, signed books etc.]. The Capuchin Annual – Collection of Alice Curtayne Material includes at the moment: 1. Alice Curtayne – “For the Septcentenary of St.Anthony of Padua (1231 – 1931) – A Study of St.Anthony the Preacher” [in: “The Capuchin Annual for the year 1931” / Including the early Curtayne-Portrait and three text-illustrations] / 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]).

Dublin, The Father Mathew Record Office, 1930 / 1945. Octavo (18 cm x 25 cm). Pagination for the Curtayne – contribution in Capuchin Annual 1931 [Second Year of Publication of the Annual]: 8 pages (pages 18 – 25) / Pagination for the Curtayne – contribution in Capuchin Annual 1945-1946 [Sixteenth Year of Publication of the Annual]: 9 pages (pages 269 – 277) plus Frontispiece and 4 further full-page-illustrations of Saints in color by the Risteárd Ó Cionga [Richard King]. Original illustrated Softcover. Good condition with some signs of wear (fraying to cover).