PLUNKETT

On one skin of vellum. Aged and worn, with some loss to text. Laid out in the customary fashion, with tax stamps in margin and the gutter carrying the Earl's signature, its two words on each side of his seal, in red wax, on green ribbon. Signed by witnesses on reverse, and docketed in a later hand: 'Pigeon Close | May be of use in identifying the bounds of the Pigeon Close at the expiration of the Lease of the <?> Rectory house'. The document relates to lands surrounding Fingall's Berkshire country estate, Shinfield House, with reference to Cobham and Peter and Henrietta Floyer.

16pp., 8vo. Complete publication, unstapled and unbound. Unopened (i.e. with the pages unseparated). On the usual high-acidity newspaper stock, brittle and aged, with chipping to outer margins. The first page carries a poem title 'Ireland, 1914', by Padraic Colum. Other contributors include Joseph Plunkett and Professor T. M. ('Tom') Kettle. The final page carries an article by M. J. Judge titled 'A Nation's Destiny. Arms Are The Arbiters', and an illustrated piece on 'First Aid'. The newspaper was published between 1914 and 1916.

38pp., 12mo. Stapled pamphlet. In grey printed wraps. Errata slip at rear. Aged, and with wraps detached as result of rusting of staples. Uncommon.

Both items are in an envelope addressed to the Duchess at 3 Belgrave Square. The envelope and its contents are on aged and creased paper. LETTER: 2pp., 12mo. Bifolium. Knowing that the Duchess is 'a well-known artist', she is offering her 'services as a model'. 'I was permanent model to the late Lord Plunket [sic] and have been painted by Cathleen Mann, Simon Elwes, Sir John Lavery, T. C. Dugdale, David Jagger and several other well-known painters.' She describes her appearance and asks to be granted an interview. POEM: 2pp., 12mo. In pencil. Unsigned, but clearly by Maitland.

Twenty-three pages (23pp.), 12mo., on six bifoliums. Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Written in snatches, with the last four pages dated 'May 23. 1917'. A well-written and entertaining letter, highly characteristic of its author in its mixture of wit and strong emotion. The subject is a 1917 privately-printed memoir of Dunsany's cousin John Hawksley by Lady Margaret Maria Verney, titled 'Lieut.-Colonel John P. V. Hawksley, D.S.O., R.F.A., 1877-1916: A Memoir compiled from his Journals and Letters'.

The four letters totalling 16pp., 12mo. Each on a bifolium. All four good, on lightly-aged paper. Chatty and informative letters, in the bored tone of the English upper classes, and exhibiting a shocking casual racism. One: From Dâk Bungalow, Rawal Pindi, 20 July 1899, and Rowberry's [sic] Hotel, Murree, 23 July 1899. 4pp., 12mo. He apologises for a hurried letter of the previous day. 'I began my journey very badly by calling a high caste mahomedan who was snoring in my carriage a Scor - (pig) he got very irate.

12mo, 2 pp. On his monogrammed letterhead (letter P with coronet). Very good, on lightly-aged paper. Addressed to 'My dear Lord Chancellor'. He cannot accept the 'kind invitation' as he has friends staying with him, 'whom I cannot well leave'.

12mo, [iv] + 60 pp. In original green printed wraps, on which the names of the four poets appear beneath the title. On aged high-acidity paper, in worn, chipped and faded wraps bound into new green wraps.Scarce: the National Library of Ireland does not appear to possess a copy. Essay on Pearse by O'Baronain; on Macdonagh by O'Neill; on Plunkett by Mc.Brien; on Macentee by Gregory; and 'Appreciation' of the first three poets by Clery. Preliminary note: 'The essays which make up this volume appeared originally in STUDIES.