Rare Book & Collectors' Sale 1st & 2nd October 2025

62 IMPERFECTIONS NOT STATED Fonsie Mealy’s Est. 1934 523. Two Irish soldiers seek Arrears of Pay, 1663 Co. Louth: Deed dated 10 January 1662 signed by Peter Moore andWalter Symes, former soldiers in the Earl of Drogheda’s troop of horse, appointing Robert Browne of Catherlagh [Carlow] their attorney to secure the arrears of pay due to them for service in Ireland. Their regiment had served in the Confederate army during the 1640s; now, with the monarchy restored and their former commanding officer created Earl of Drogheda, these soldiers had hopes of receiving the wages owing to them, as a m/ss., w.a.f. (1) €200 - €300 524. Letter from a well-known 19th-century American Historian [Postal Interest] [Benson J. Lossing,] A manuscript dated at Poughkeepsie, N.Y., 16 Feb. 1863, declining an invitation to the inauguration of the new post office in Philadelphia. He contrasts the “new and magnificent” post office with the US postal service of 90 years ago, which he describes in some detail: “The mails were carried on horseback, each rider going twenty-five miles and back, hurtling night and day”; the accounts “were kept in a common half-bound folio volume of three quires of paper!” Benson John Lossing (1813-1891) was a prolific writer, best known for his history of the American Revolution, for which he travelled thousands of miles, and which he illustrated with his own sketches. He later followed this with a similar work on the Civil War, collaborating with Matthew Brady in the use of photographs as illustrations. Losing was exceptional in his time for his diligence in seeking out primary sources. With modern transcript, as a m/ss., w.a.f. (1) €250 - €350 525. Letters from the Registrar General, Dublin Dublin Interest: A large file of Official Letters, both printed and manuscript, sent by Thomas Grimshaw, Registrar General, Charlemont House, Dublin (now HQ of the Hugh Lane Dublin City Gallery), to the Registrar of Bawnboy Union, Co. Cavan, 1877-1899, mostly concerning the correct procedure for entering births, marriages and deaths, the filing of claims, etc., as a lot. (1) €120 - €180 526. Naval Interest: A late 9th Century combined Desk Clock and Barometer, retailed by Mosley, modelled as a rope entwined anchor supporting both clock and aneroid barometer, with drum shaped mounts, central thermometer scale, on a polished marble and brass plinth base. (1) €350 - €420 527. Small Stone with Arabic inscription Elliptical Jade Stone, light green, 4.3 x 6.7 cm, with Arabic inscription calling for blessings and prayers for Muhammed, Fatima, and the twelve imams of Shia Islam. With English translation, and letter to a Mr Alton from John F. Pope, “examiner in Arabic”, 8 March 1909. (1) Provenance: The O’Brien’s of Dromoland Castle. €200 - €300 528. Profusely illustrated log kept by a Victorian Midshipman Naval Interest: Log kept by Midshipman Herbert C.C. Da Costa aboard HMS Agincourt, Superb, Penelope (briefly) and Garnet, 19 December 1879 to 17 April 1884. An extensive daily record of many voyages, mainly off the Channel coast and in the Mediterranean, North America and the West Indies. While the details are mostly routine (“Set foretopsail and head sails … Served out soap & tobacco … heavy well from N.E. …”), the glory of this book is the many illustrations: 47 meticulously drawn coloured charts and maps of different sizes; 10 scale drawings of ships and equipment; 3 photographs; 12 sketches (some in colour); and 2 illuminated pages. Da Costa served first on HMS Agincourt, a Minotaur-class ironclad frigate. In October 1880 he was transferred to the Superb, an ironclad battleship recently commissioned for service in the Mediterranean; she took part in the bombardment of Alexandria on 11-13 October 1882 – details are recorded in this log, together with a drawing and description of the location of the ten hits she received from Egyptian shells. After serving briefly on HMS Penelope, he was transferred to HMS Garnet, an Emerald- class composite screw corvette. Herbert Charles Campbell Da Costa (1865-1940), joined the Royal Navy as a 12-year-old cadet in 1878; he was promoted to midshipman in 1880 and to sub-lieutenant in 1884 (when this log ends); he continued a distinguished naval career and retired in 1925 with the rank of admiral, as a m/s. (1) €700 - €900 524 526 528