
IRELAND
IRISH
[IMPRINTS INCLUDED]
A-G H-N
O-Z
[
]
By an Irish-Canadian
O'Neill, Moira. Songs of the Glens of Antrim. New York: Macmillan & Co., 1904. 8vo. x pp., [1] f., 61 pp.
$75.00
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O'Neill was the pen name of
Agnes Shakespeare Higginson (1864–1955), an Irish-Canadian poet. This is a later printing of her 1900 best-selling volume of poetry. Title-page in black and red.
Provenance: Inscription of M.A. O'Neil to fly-leaf, Portland, ME (1905); signature of Francis Massey O'Brien, Irish-American bibliophile and bookseller also of Portland, in his “Proinnsías Ó Bríain” form (1940).
Publisher's quarter brick red cloth with muted-apricot paper-covered sides; elegant gilt cartouche on front cover with author and title in black. Board edges lightly rubbed.
A pleasing, attractive copy with pleasing provenance. (29955)

An Irish Plutarch — Illustrated
Plutarch. Plutarch's lives, in six volumes: Translated from the Greek, with notes, explanatory and critical, from Dacier and others. Dublin: J. Williams, 1769. 8vo (20.6 cm, 8.15"). 2 vols. (of 6). I: Frontis., vii, [17], xiii–lxiv, 382 pp.; illus. II: 468 pp.; illus.
$200.00
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First two volumes of this 18th-century Irish edition of the classic biographies, Theseus through Cato the Censor, extensively annotated and prefaced by Dryden's life of Plutarch. The first volume opens with a copper-engraved frontispiece done by “H.P.” after a painting by James Thornhill, and in each volume an engraved vignette appears at the start of each life (or a frame deliberately left blank appears, in the case of a subject with no known likeness from which to work).
Provenance: Both volumes: Each front pastedown with navy and rose 19th-century bookplate of Hooton Library and with armorial bookplate of Sir Thomas Stanley-Massey-Stanley (b. 1755, d. 1795), front free endpaper with bookplate of Henry Taylor (1845–1927), a historian, antiquarian, and founder of the Flintshire Historical Society.
Vol. I here bears an extensive and interesting list of subscribers.
ESTC N20527. Contemporary speckled calf, spines with raised bands, gilt-stamped leather title-labels, and gilt-stamped volume numbers; volumes rubbed and covers only gingerly holding with front free endpapers separated. Vols. I and II only, of six; vol. I spine label lost, vol. II label chipped. Text blocks strong with some light age-toning and occasional foxing, only, and first and last few leaves with offsetting. Priced according to condition and with reading, engravings, and provenance all still pleasurable to engage with. (37174)

Nonesuch Press Edition:
A Novel
C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien Read Aloud
to
Make the Inklings Laugh
Ros, Amanda McKittrick. Irene Iddesleigh. London: Nonesuch Press, 1926. 12mo (20 cm, 7.9"). 151, [1] pp.; illus.
$125.00
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Nonesuch printing of the first novel from an Irish author who made a career out of being critically savaged for her florid and improbably alliterative prose. Anna Margaret Ross, who wrote under the “Ros” pseudonym, first published this tragic novel about a doomed marriage at her own expense in 1897; Mark Twain called it “one of the greatest unintentionally hilarious novels of all time,” and to this day it continues to be featured on lists of the worst books ever written.
“This edition follows exactly the text of the original Belfast issue of 1897 except that certain misprints have been corrected,” according to the edition statement; the text is ornamented with reproductions of the original
three wood engravings by W.M.R. Quick. The present example is numbered copy 719 of 1250 printed.
Provenance: Calligraphic bookplate of Norman J. Sondheim, American collector of fine press books.
McKitterick/Rendall/Dreyfus 33. Publisher's half sheep and pink, red, and brown mottled paper–covered sides, spine with gilt-stamped title; spine gently sunned, extremities a bit rubbed. Front pastedown with bookplate as above; light foxing to endpapers, with a very few faint spots elsewhere. Lovely Nonesuch production of a “must read it to believe it” novel! (32039)
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“The Grisly Form of
Star-Chamber Tyranny Stared Me in the Face”
Russell, William. Letters of William Russell, on the doctrine of
constructive contempt. With a true copy of the original affidavit, upon which the sheriff of the county of Dublin was attached, and an accurate report of the judgment of the King's Bench in that case. Dublin: [s.n.], 1786. 8vo (20.4 cm, 8"). [iii]–xl, 155, [1] pp. (lacking half-title).
$1000.00
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Sole edition of this strongly worded epistolary examination of constructive contempt (contempt of court which occurs outside of the court's actual presence) and its role in Sheriff Henry Steevens Reily's case — the disposition of which the author considered an attempt to subvert the rights of free Irish citizens. The dedication to Prime Minister William Pitt makes particular note of the "independent situation of Irish courts" (p. vii).
While this work is certainly held in the expectable Irish libraries, it is
little held in British or American librariess. In fact, searches of NUC, ESTC, and WorldCat locate only two libraries in the U.S., both in the northeast (Cornell, Boston Public) reporting ownership.
ESTC T179610. Period-style half calf and marbled paper–covered sides, spine with gilt-stamped title. Half-title lacking; title-page with early inked inscriptions in upper portion (one inked over), lower corners torn away, and edges chipped as next few leaves' are; first dedication page with early 20th-century inscription in inner margin. Pages darkened, especially at edges, and a good many bumped; last four leaves tattered with old repairs to lower corners taking a few letters but not sense, and once-separated final leaf with repairs also to upper and inner margins. A copy with some rough aspects, but one now sound and
a book that's scarce. (34108)
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LOLs(?) Including
“Irish Blunders”
The Scotch haggis; A Selection of choice bon mots, Irish blunders, Repartees, Anecdotes, &c. / Care to our coffin adds a nail no doubt, / While every laugh so merry draws one out. Glasgow [Scotland]: Printed for the Booksellers, [18--] . 12mo. 24 pp.
$125.00
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Title woodcut vignette of a seated man in a kilt, cap and tartan scarf playing the bagpipes. “[No.] 37" printed at foot of title.
Original self wrappers, removed from a nonce volume; top margin cropped eliminating the top of the title's decorative frame and three page numbers, tear to the inner edge of last page slightly affecting the text. Good. (17643)

A Bowery
“B'Hoy” Makes Good
Southworth, Mrs. E.D.E.N. Capitola's peril. New York: A.L. Burt & Co., [ca. 1890]. 12mo (19.2 cm, 7.55"). [2], 246, [6 (adv.)] pp.
$125.00
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The exciting conclusion of The Hidden Hand, Southworth's most popular novel. “Madcap” scrappy Irish-American tomboy Capitola, rescued from street life in New York City and removed to a Virginia plantation, embarks on further adventures before settling down to her happy ending. The entire work was originally serialized and then printed in book form under the Hidden Hand title, and subsequently often published in two volumes as The Hidden Hand and Capitola's Perils. This is an early if not the first printing of the latter as a separate item, now uncommon as such, with the present copy being
in the publisher's original dust jacket.
Binding: Publisher's light yellow cloth decoratively stamped in maroon and dark green, front cover with color-printed pictorial paper onlay, in color-printed dust jacket as above.
Cover and jacket sport three-quarter portraits of a charming, intelligent-looking young woman of the period; not the SAME girl, however!
This ed. not in Wright; see Wright, III, 5090 for single-volume first ed. Bound as above, volume slightly shaken, edges and spine extremities rubbed, tiny spots of insect damage to front joint; jacket
darkened with spine head chipped and lower portion of spine torn away. Pages evenly age-toned, otherwise clean. (41299)

A Military Manual for Troops Serving under a BRITISH OFFICER in the Peninsular Campaign
PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED
Spain. Army. Reglamento para el exercicio y maniobras de la infantería. De las evoluciones de línea. [colophon: Cadiz: en la Imprenta Tormentaria á cargo de Juan Domingo Villegas, 1813]. 8vo (21.5 cm; 8.125"). [2], 281–385, 15 pp., fold. plts. numbered xxxix –lxviii.
$1800.00
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At the base of the title-page of this infantry manual is printed “Reimpreso por disposicion del . . . señor don Carlos Doyle, teniente general de los reales exercitos.”
That is, Lt. Gen. Charles William Doyle (1770–1842) ordered this work to be printed.
Doyle was an Irish-born British lieutenant-colonel who in 1808 was ordered to Portugal to help fight Napoleon in the Peninsular Campaign. He very successfully aided the Spanish army in instilling discipline and organizing light infantry and was made a lieutenant general in the Spanish army. In 1811 Britain ordered him home, but when he reached Cadiz, Sir Henry Wellesley convinced him to command a camp at which a new army was being organized for action in the south of Spain. Again he was highly successful in his military instruction of new troops, and as a result was promoted to full colonel in the British army; he remained in Spain till the end of the war in 1814.
The present work, extracted from the larger one of the same title printed at Madrid by the Imprenta Real in 1808, was clearly printed for the instruction of Doyle's southern army.
At the rear of the volume are
30 folding plates setting forth various dispositions and movements of infantry troops; clear, careful, verbal explanations of these precede them.
Searches of NUC, WorldCat, and the CCPBE locate
only three copies worldwide (all in Spain).
Provenance: Contemporary signature of “Velez” on title-page.
Not in Palau. On Doyle, see: DNB online. Dark brown speckled calf, black gilt-lettered title-label (a little chipped) to gilt-ruled spine, marbled endpapers; binding lightly rubbed. Age-toning and general light soiling, occasionally a dog-ear or a spot, all plates clean, well-attached, and whole at folds.
A very sound, very good copy. (36362)

“A Thought is a Real Thing & Words are Only Its Raiment”
Stephens, James; Thomas Mackenzie, illus. The crock of gold. London: Macmillan & Co, 1926. 8vo (22.9 cm, 9"). vii, [1], 227, [1] pp.; 12 col. plts.
$650.00
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“They took the Philosopher from his prison . . . and then they returned again, dancing and singing, to the country of the gods . . . “: A fantastical novel of philosophical adventure, liberally infused with mirth and
Irish folklore — as well as a great number of proclamations regarding the essential nature of the sexes and their battle. This is an early edition, following the first of 1912, featuring
twelve color-printed plates as well as large, decorative black and white head- and tailpieces in modern woodcut style by Thomas Mackenzie.
Binding: Contemporary green morocco, covers framed in gilt double fillets, front cover with gilt-stamped title, spine with raised bands, compartments framed in gilt double fillets with
gilt corner shamrocks, shamrock motif repeated on wide, gilt-ruled turn-ins Bright green endpapers. Signed binding, stamped by Donnelley of Chicago on lower front turn-in.
Provenance: Front pastedown with bookplate of Francis John Breck, Jr., dated 10/29/72. Later in the library of Robert L. Sadoff, M.D., sans indicia.
Binding as above, spine and edges sunned to brown, joints opening from head and foot, edges rubbed. Endpapers with offsetting from turn-ins and front free one loosening; pages slightly age-toned. A handsome example of this enduring classic, with Mackenzie's
lovely, lyrical illustration. (39825)
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History of English Law by
One of the Great IRISH Barristers
Sullivan, Francis Stoughton. An historical treatise on the feudal law, and the constitution and laws of England; with a commentary on Magna Charta, and necessary illustrations of many of the English statues, in a course of lectures, read in the University of Dublin. Dublin: Thomas Ewing, 1772. 8vo (20.8 cm, 8.2"). xvi, 448 pp.
$750.00
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Uncommon first Irish edition: Lectures on the nature and history of feudal law and the English constitution, originally delivered at the University of Dublin. Sullivan, who served as the first Professor of Feudal and English law at Trinity College Dublin, was a Galway-born lawyer known for his passion for early Irish history as well as for his accomplishments in jurisprudence; this was his only published work, printed posthumously. Later editions of this work carry the title, Lectures on the Constitution and Laws of England.
ESTC T78584; Sweet & Maxwell (2nd ed.) I:16.25. Contemporary calf, spine with gilt-stamped leather title-label; spine and extremities showing minor wear. Endpapers and fly-leaves with marginal offsetting from turn-ins. Pages with occasional small faint spots, otherwise clean. A solid and eminently respectable copy. (34096)

“Is it Best to be Laughing-Mad, or Crying-Mad, in the World?”
Titmarsh, M.A. [pseud. of William Thackeray]. Mrs. Perkins's ball. [London]: Chapman & Hall (pr. by Vizetelly Brothers & Co.), [1847]. 4to (21.6 cm, 8.5"). [2], engr. t.-p., 46, [2] pp.; 1 fold. col. plt., 20 col. plts.
$400.00
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First edition, first issue of this Thackeray publication, intended as a
Christmas gift book. The wry satire on the attendees of a society ball commences when our humble narrator is strong-armed into taking the Mulligan of Ballymulligan — a bumptious Irishman — to an upper-crust dance featuring young maidens on matrimonial lookout, frivolous society men, old maids, members of the Foreign Office, illustrious literary rivals, those who polka and those who don't, plus a host of other characters captured in brief but telling detail. Each of the delightfully droll vignettes features an illustration
engraved after Thackeray's own design, along with a frontispiece, engraved title-page, and oversized folding plate, for a total of
22 hand-colored plates.
Van Duzer 140; NCBEL, III, 857. Publisher's printed pink paper–covered boards, in red cloth clamshell case with gilt-stamped publication information on spine; binding faded, rubbed, and dust-soiled though not “sad,” with case showing moderate shelfwear, spotting, and signs of handling. Inside cover of clamshell case with pencilled annotations regarding issue points; front free endpaper with 19th-century inked inscription of Mrs. James Tradut [?] and with another pencilled annotation on points in a different hand. Light foxing and occasional smudges to pages and plates; overall a very reasonable copy of this delightful first edition. (37999)

United BCP with a
Westminster Abbey Fore-Edge View
United Church of England and Ireland. Book of Common Prayer. The Book of Common Prayer, and administration of the Sacraments, and other rites and ceremonies of the Church, according to the use of the United Church of England and Ireland: Together with the Psalter, or Psalms of David, pointed as they are to be sung or said in churches. London: Pub. for John Reeves (pr. by W. Bulmer), 1802. 8vo (24 cm, 9.5"). vi, [694] pp.
$750.00
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There were minor differences between the Prayer Books of the Church of England and the Church of Ireland up until 1801, the year that the churches merged; the various 1801 BCPs were the first to use the “United Church” designation. John Reeves had been appointed king's printer in 1800, and edited his own version of the BCP, of which this is the second edition; the separate title-page following the preliminary matter is dated 1801. (That preliminary matter, offering historical and liturgical commentary, is extensive and interesting.)Fore-edge: This beautiful example bears a subtly shaded (and therefore hard to photograph)
fore-edge painting showing Westminster Abbey in the background behind a waterfront view with sailboats.
Binding: Full straight-grain dark olive green morocco, covers framed in elegant feather and pearl twist gilt roll, turn-ins with floral gilt roll. Stone-pattern marbled endpapers. All edges gilt.
Griffiths, Bibliography of the Book of Common Prayer, 1802/1. Binding as above, mild rubbing overall with some abraded areas consolidated, joints and extremities subtly repaired, aesthetically appropriate endbands supplied. Title-page with inked ownership inscription dated 1803, “The gift of my beloved husband.” Intermittent faint spots of foxing, mostly confined to early leaves. One inked marginal annotation in an early hand, three psalms (145–47) with small inked emphasis marks, pages otherwise clean. (28715)
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Early Christianity in Britain & the
Heresy of Pelagianism
Ussher, James. Britannicarum ecclesiarum antiquitates: Quibus inserta est pestiferae adversus Dei gratiam a Pelagio britanno in ecclesiam inductae haereseos historia. Accedit gravissimae quaestionis de christianarum ecclesiarum successione & statu historica explicatio. Londini: Impensis Benj. Tooke, 1687. Folio (31 cm, 12.5"). [8] ff., 136, 145–336, 339–509, [5], 507–548 pp., [7] ff., 191, [1] pp.
$600.00
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Ussher (1581–1656), Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, is most remembered by the general public for his calculation — based upon his literal reading of the Old Testament — that the first day of creation was 23 October 4004 bc (Julian calendar). The present work was first published in Dublin in 1639 and is here in the second edition “in utraque parte ipsius reverendissimi autoris manu passim aucta & nusquam non emendata.”
The DNB online writes of the Antiquitates: “In 1639 came the culmination of Ussher's researches into the early history of Britain and Ireland, with the publication of his Britannicarum ecclesiarum antiquitates, a monumental work that set out to trace the development of Christianity in these islands from its misty origins to the end of the seventh century. . . . During the 1630s, as his historical interests matured, it became evident that the fiercely anti-Catholic and apocalyptic tone of his earlier writings was much less prominent. But one contemporary concern remained evident in Antiquitates — Ussher's anti-Arminianism: the work contained yet another treatment of the efforts to stamp out Pelagianism in Britain.”
ESTC R9506; Wing (rev. ed.) U160. Late 20th- or early 21st–century quarter dark brown calf, round spine, gilt-beaded raised bands, red leather title-label and blind-stamped center device in each other spine compartment, date in gilt at base of spine; sides with wide comb pattern marbled paper. Waterstaining to early and late leaves, generally confined to margins, with cockling throughout; overall a rather good copy, nicely and very strongly bound. (38981)
BEFORE His Falling-Out with
the Wesleys — Travels in Georgia
Whitefield, George. A journal of a voyage from London to Savannah in Georgia. In two parts. Part I. From London to Gibraltar. Part II. From Gibraltar to Savannah. [bound with the same author's] A continuation of the Reverend Mr. Whitefield's journal from his arrival at Savannah, to his return to London. London: Pr. for James Hutton, 1739. 8vo. [2] ff., 38 pp., [1] f. London: Pr. for James Hutton, 1739. 8vo. 55, [1 (blank)] pp.
$2000.00
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George Whitefield (1714–70), a Calvinist preacher who had also been an early follower of the Wesleys during the nascent years of Methodism, was a prime mover in the Great Awakening in the English colonies in American during the second quarter of the 18th century. The present works recount his travel to and in Georgia in aid of the Wesleys' efforts there; the Continuation offers half a dozen pages speaking to time spent in Ireland.
Fifth edition of the Voyage from London and second edition of the Continuation.
Voyage from London: Sabin 103534; Alden & Landis 739/343; ESTC T29204. Continuation: Sabin 103535 & 103538; Alden & Landis 739/340; ESTC T34033 & T34025. Recent full calf antique-style with gilt concentric panels on covers and gilt corner-devices on same; round spine with raised bands, each accented by gilt rules. 19th-century wood-engraved portrait of Whitefield added as a frontispiece. A very pleasing volume. (21775)
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[Wolcot, John]. A poetical epistle to a falling minister; also, an imitation of the twelfth ode of Horace. By Peter Pindar. Dublin: P. Byrne, 1789. 8vo (20.7 cm, 8.1"). [2], 22 pp.
$200.00
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First Irish printing, following the first London edition of the same year, of these two vitriolic satires directed against William Pitt. Pitt, as well as the king, was a fruitful subject for Pindar’s scathing attacks; here the poet defends the prince while describing Pitt and his allies in terms that border on the offensive.
ESTC T121646; NCBEL, II, 695. Removed from a nonce volume and now in a Mylar folder. One corner creased; first and last page lightly spotted, otherwise clean. (5649)

Sensational “News” Reports — Shocking “Plots” Fortunately “Discovered”!
(Worcester, Edward Somerset, Marquis of). The earl of Glamorgans negotiations and colourable commitment in Ireland demonstrated; Or, the Irish plot for bringing ten thousand men and arms into England, whereof three hundred to be for Prince Charls's Lifegard. Discovered in several letters taken in a packet-boat by Sir Tho: Fairfax forces at Padstow in Cornwal; which letters were cast into the sea, and by the sea coming in, afterwards regained; and were read in the Honorable House of Commons, and ordered to be printed. London: Edward Husband, 1645. 4to (19 cm, 7.5"). 35, [1] pp.
$950.00
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False news, conspiracy theories, and fears of alien invasion seem to have always been with us — they were definitely alive and well in England during the era of the Irish Rebellion of 1641, and are on display in their full regalia in this pamphlet from the ever-reliable author “Anonymous.”
ESTC R200673; Wing (rev. ed.) W3533. Quarter red morocco with French-swirl marbled paper sides and gilt spine lettering; binding signed (with small rubber-stamp on verso of front free endpaper) by the Macdonald Company of New York. Leather of joints lightly rubbed in places. Text soiled/stained throughout; fore- and top margins of all leaves with repairs to areas of lost paper, not affecting sidenotes; in all, Good. (37988)
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