Fonsie Mealy Auctioneers RARE BOOK & COLLECTORS SALE 6th & 7th, December 2022

103 Fonsie Mealy’s Est. 1934 Government of Saorstat Eireann, carbon copy, requesting a grant towards its operations; – The Lane Pictures. Dublin Corporation. Statement of the Claim, etc., by John J. Reynolds, 1932, with circular letter from the City Manager; – A British Committee report, 1926, advising against return of the pictures; – First Annual Report of the Friends of the National Collections of Ireland c.1925 (members include Aodh O Cinneide, Chief Justice), and a few other publications related to the arts. – An envelope of press cuttings from Kennedy’s official visit to U.S.A. 1928; – A letter and offprint from Seamus Ó Duibhlearga concerning folklore, 1925; – Invitations to various official functions, including the installation of the Governor-General. – Christmas card from President of Executive Council 1931, and cards from John A. Costello, Lord and Lady Aberdeen, etc. – Various old envelopes, some with interesting postage stamps attached, one containing copies of the letterhead of the Irish Courts of Justice; also a collection of (earlier) Privy Council Dublin Castle notepaper; – A few letters to the Chief Justice from members of the public, including AL Signed J.W.B. dated 15 Aug. 1936, stating ‘Your the only person I can trust with the following Important Information, there is a postman namedWilliam Marshall employed in GPO ... he is a very important man in the Red Communists formed in GPO ... ’ – Seanad Eireann Election 1938. Candidate’s leaflet for Mrs. Clare Kennedy (Widow of the late Chief Justice Aodh O Cinneide), 2 pages, with a portrait. Three Candles printing. Rare. – Felix Hackett, two ALS to Mrs. Kennedy, 1955, mainly concerning Kennedy and St. Stephen’s. – An original manuscript indenture on vellum, August 1676, between EdwardWharroll and Francis O’Loughlin, relating to a bond, probably evidence in some case. The above listing broadly follows the order in which the items are filed in the relevant folders. It establishes a portrait of a very talented man, with a keen intellect, wide-ranging friendships and broad interests, perhaps constrained by his high judicial office. The photographs offer a beguiling portrait of the gilded lifestyle of Ministers, Judges and their associates in the twenties and thirties, though it is interesting that Kennedy apparently had little in the bank when he died, in spite of what must have been a generous salary. He was only 56 when he died, but had been ill for several years. There are several documents of significant historical interest, but the most important element is undoubtedly the fine collection of drawings by the distinguished artist Charles Shannon of the proposed new judicial robes, testifying both to Kennedy’s interest in the Brehon judges of Gaelic Ireland and his friendship with W.B. Yeats, then an active member of the Senate and much interested in the external images and symbols of the new State. Yeats’ work on the new Irish coinage is well known, but his proposals for judicial dress have attracted little attention – understandably so, since these fine drawings have never been shown in public. According to Foster (II p. 331), Yeats wished to exhibit the designs at the time, but the Chief Justice would not allow it. Perhaps it is not too late, even now, for an exhibition, with a selection of documents and photographs from this archive. (1) €7000 - €9000