Rare Book & Collectors' Sale June 23rd, 24th & 25th 2026

82 IMPERFECTIONS NOT STATED Fonsie Mealy’s Est. 1934 651. Royal Photographs: Two original Photographs by Lafayette of Dublin, of Their Majesties, King Edward VII, & Queen Alexander visiting Ireland in 1904, one of them‘ Leaving Kingstown en route for Dubin,’ 25cms x 30cms (10” x 12”) & the Other, Their Arrival at Punchestown Races, 16cms x 22cms (6¼” x 8½”) both inscribed on reverse. V. good, as photos. (2) €100 - €150 652. A Collection of Letters, Poems, Autographs etc, from the O’Brien Collection. The main recipients are: • Sir Aubrey de Vere, 2nd Bart, of Curraghchase, Co. Limerick (1788- 1846), landowner and poet – Wordsworth called his sonnets “the most perfect of the age”. • Aubrey Thomas de Vere, poet and critic (1814-1902), third son of Sir Aubrey. • William Edward Forster (1818-1886), philanthropist and statesman but remembered in Ireland as “Buckshot Forster” on account of his vigorous response to land agitation when Chief Secretary. He married Jane Martha, eldest daughter of Thomas Arnold (“Arnold of Rugby”) and sister of the poet Matthew Arnold. On the death of her brother William in 1859, leaving four orphans, he adopted the children as his own. • Florence Vere O’Brien (1854-1936), née Arnold, daughter of William Arnold (see preceding) and adoptive daughter of W.E. Forster, diarist and philanthropist; set up the Limerick Lace School and Clare Embroidery. She married Robert Vere O’Brien in 1883. • Robert Vere O’Brien, barrister and land agent (1842-1913), Florence’s husband. They lived initially at Oldchurch, Co. Limerick, then at Newhall, Co. Clare (rented from the McDonnells) and later at Ballyalla. As an Archive, w.a.f. (1) Provenance: De Veres of Curragh Chase and O’Briens of Dromoland Castle. €400 - €500 653 – See page 83 654. Early 19th Century Building Contracts in Carlow Co. Carlow: A collection of manuscript Contracts, Calculations and Costings for the development and improvement of the County of Calow in the early 19th Century, with various prices etc., Signed by T. Rochfort andW. Fishbourne, as a m/ss. (1) * An important first hand collection of Papers giving detailed information on County Management, development and building in Ireland in the early 19th Century. €250 - €320 655. Presentation Copy to the Earl of Rosse, President Royal Society Astronomy: Carrington (Rich. Christopher) Nine Draft Maps, (Printed by The Anastatic Process) containing All the Stars above The Eleventh Magnitude Situated within Nine Degrees of the North Pole, Laid Down for the Year 1853. V. large folio n. place with 9 lg. folio plts., & 1 page of letterpress. In orig. printed sleeve, with m/ss presentation inscription to ‘ The Earl of Rosse, President Royal Society,’ (1) * This collection consisted of Only 50 Copies printed. About forty- five copies were sent to various astronomers & friends. Carrington was born in May 1826 & died in November 1875. Very Rare. (1) Provenance: Birr Castle Estate. €200 - €300 656. Astronomy: Dale (R.) A collection of 10 Prints after drawings by R. Dale of The Great Spiral Nebula, also known as M51 or the ‘Whirlpool,’ and others as follows, Plate 1, Frontispiece Spiral Nebula; approaching to Circular, Plate II, Great External Cluster, Plate VIII, Dumb Bell Nebular, Plate X, Nebulae with Hollow Centres, Plate XI, Oblong Hoop or Ring Nebula, (seen obliquely) Plate XII, The Great Spiral Nebula, Plate XIII, Spiral Nebula, Foreshortened, Plate XIV, Great Nebula in Andromeda, (Harvard Refractor) Plate XV, Open Spiral, Plate XVII, Great Nebula of Orion, (Harvard Refractor) Together 10 plts, each approx. 29.5cms x 39cms (11½” x 15½”) or 22cms x 30cms (8½" x 11¾”) all loose, very slight staining. A very rare collection, as is, w.a.f. (10) Provenance: Birr Castle Estate. €300 - €400 657. Astronomy - Photograph: The Southern Cross, taken at the Union Observatory, Johannesburg, Exposure 160mms with the Franklin Adams 10” Star Camera. Date 1910 June 11, Inscribed on reverse, approx. 30.5cms x 25.5cms (12” x 10”), some folding cracks & dam., mounted. As a photograph, w.a.f. (1) Provenance: Birr Castle Estate. €80 - €120 652 657