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

93 Fonsie Mealy’s Est. 1934 747. Robinson (Lennox) A very good ALs., 4 pp, on plain paper, from the Abbey Theatre, dated Jan. 29 (no year, 1940s), to ‘ Dear - dear - Leonie’ [Leonie Leslie of Glaslough, wife of Sir John Leslie and mother of Shane Leslie]. ‘Forgive horrible paper and worse writing. I had a very interesting 10 days in London - did a lot of business and saw old friends and saw London, which I hadn’t since two years before the War - (this one, not the next)’, mentioning various friends, Huntington, Pearsall Smith. ‘Huntington said he [Pearsall Smith] was difficult and a little crazy ... with the help of my Irish torch I found his house, [he was] there among his books and very happy and warm with his central heating and not a bit crazy, but what an egoist, and when he wasn’t running down G.B.S. he was praising you .. I am writing this in a hurry before a class of acting - I had 60 pupils but I made a “purge” (German phrase) after a month and cut them to 50 or thereabouts .. The London business ended up with my going to write a Life of Lady Gregory, with editing her diaries, with promising to do a book about Dublin, with promising to do a few plays for the B.B.C. and then I have to find out all about Boucicault and Bickerstaffe for the Academy of Letters Anglo-Irish Bibliography ..’. With a playful signature, ‘Lennox Robinson (Bart.)’. As a m/ss., w.a.f. (1) €200 - €300 748. MacDonagh (Donagh) A sheet bearing manuscript drafts of two sections of his verse play Happy as Larry, profusely corrected, one side in green ink commencing ‘ Mrs. L. I have spoken of faithfulness to memory / Of [...] widowhood & moving funerals / But now with Larry stretched and suddenly dead / The house filled up with mourners..’ The other side, in blue ink, commences ‘ Dr. Mrs. Larry, do you wonder / In the night-time unattended / Loveless in your grieving..’ Unsigned, but undoubtedly in MacDonagh’s untidy hand. ‘Happy as Larry,’ and was performed at the Abbey Theatre, ad was published by Maurice Fridberg; with A TLS from an address in Kent, 19 December 1954, 2pp (single sheet), ‘ Don and Nuala,’ from an actor names ‘ Liam’ (probably Liam Redmond), mentioning a contract to play in Paul Carroll’s ‘ The Wayward Saint,’ on Broadway, following ‘ a long stretch of miserable unemployment,’ and discussing plans for the production. (2) * Donagh MacDonagh, a lawyer and judge, was a son of Thomas MacDonagh, executed after the Easter Rising. €200 - €300 749. O’Sullivan (Seumas) poet and critic. A good ALs. 1.9.32, 2 pp (single sheet), to the young Donagh MacDonagh (then aged about 20). ‘I take it that you sent me your verses in order that I might give you an opinion on them, not to obtain a flattering appreciation. There are of course many lines & phrases in your work which I could praise, but in nearly all of the poems I find cliches & echoes of other people’s thought, and I would strongly advise you not to publish them at the present moment. Keep them a while and make them more your own ..’ A thoughtful letter, offering excellent advice, even if not what the young poet was hoping for. With a TLs. dated 2.10.40, discussing some of [Donagh’s father] Thomas MacDonagh’s books from a bibliographical point of view. (2) *Seumas O’Sullivan, himself a poet, was editor of the Dublin Magazine. €200 - €300 750. Edwards (Hilton) Director. A good TLs. on Gate Theatre notepaper dated 24 September 1951, 1 pp, to Donagh [MacDonagh], concerning his play God’s Gentry. ‘First of all I think the play is delightful. I believe you are re writing the last act ..’, and in view of this he offers some thoughts about how this might be done. ‘Incidentally, you are the only writer I have met in Ireland who can write love scenes .. I would not find the play easy to cast, but I am very interested in doing it, particularly if the English and American rights were available for a period. With m/ ss notes, names and addresses on reverse.’ Minor tears at folds, no loss. As a m/ss, w.a.f. (1) €100 - €150 751. Dublin Play Bill: Theatre Royal, Dublin - Fourth Appearance of Mr. Macready .. in Sheridan Knowles celebrated Tragedy of ‘Virginius: Or, The Liberation of Rome,’ etc. etc. Performed ‘This present Monday Oct. 27th, 1834,’ Broadside printed one side only by R. Carrick, Bachelor’s Walk, approx. 12” x 7¼”. Good. (1) €100 - €150 752. The Abbey Theatre Players. Brochure for Performances by the Abbey in the United States, under the management of Elbert A. Wickes, with notes on the plays and players, photos etc., large quarto, circa 1932. (1) €75 - €125 753. Gaiety Theatre, Dublin: 70th Anniversary Souvenir Programme, Nov. 1871 - Nov. 1941, together with 75th Anniversary Souvenir Programme, 1871 - 1946, 2 vols. 4to D. (Thom’s & Hely’s) illus., orig. cold. decor. boards; also sim. Programmes for 1871 - 1955, & Programme for Centenary Celebrations 1871 - 1971; & also Souvenir Programme for Grand Re-Opening 29th October 1984, a group of 5 items, all in fine condition. V. Scarce. (5) €120 - €180 747 746