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Description
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An Original Copy with a Fine Provenance Poblacht na hEireann. the Provisional Government of the Irish Republic to the People of Ireland. "Irishmen and Irishwomen! In the name of God and of the dead generations form which she receives her old tradition of nationhood, Ireland through us, summons her children to her flag and strikes for her freedom.... ."An original copy of the Proclamation, printed under armed guard at Liberty Hall on Easter Sunday 1916, and read aloud by P.H. Pearse under the portico of the General Post Office on Easter Monday. Printed on (newsprint) paper of poor quality, somewhat brown as usual. With all the typographical peculiarities due to shortage of type, etc., as identified by J.J. Bouch in his bibliographical study, with correct size, length of printed line etc., and other measurements within the tolerances established by Bouch. Unquestionably an original copy of the 1916 printing and guaranteed as such.This copy with a sizeable piece torn away from the third paragraph, right hand side, damaged when removed (in haste) from a hoarding, with some loss of text, now professionally restored, the missing text supplied by hand on a backing sheet, also some other minor dam., and repairs, and stains including cellotape and what are reported to be blood stains. Framed.Provenance: During Easter Week this copy of the Proclamation was posted in North King Street, just beside the Four Courts in north central Dublin, an area which saw some of the most intense fighting (see Caulfield, The Easter Rebellion pp. 81-83, 162-3). It was removed by Murty Tubridy from Co. Clare, who served as Volunteer in Ned Daly's Battalion, and was part of a unit headed by Peadar Clancy. His main involvement centred around the Four Courts where he was appointed as grenade thrower, and was also responsible for constructing a blockade on Kings Street. On the second last day of the fighting (Easter Friday) he received some minor injuries and was grazed also on the ear. He was sent to Richmond Hospital for treatment, and while being moved to the hospital by his comrades he first removed the above Proclamation from the hoarding at King Street which he had been blockading. Soon after he arrived at Richmond he was advised, 'If you are anyway mobile vacate the premises' as the hospital was soon to be raided. His Battalion surrendered on 29th April, 1916, but Tubridy was not detained at this time. He was later imprisoned at Dundalk Jail, where he was granted parole, organized by Austin Stack who was leader of the prisoners for four days for his fathers funeral. He also served in Belfast, with Terence Mac Swiney, Thomas Mc Curtin and other prominent Republican Prisoners.*Authentic copies of the Proclamation have always been rare, particularly those with a traceable provenance. Although it is accepted somewhere around 1000 copies were printed distribution was very limited, and the vast majority were damaged by rain, or destroyed in the shelling and fires during the Rising. Our best estimate is that no more than 40 - 50 copies have survived to the present day, and most of these are in institutional collections where they are likely to remain. In respect of its condition, the present copy leaves something to be desired and this we have taken into account in the estimate price, but at least it can be said that its wounds were received in action. An amazing relic of this momentous time in Irish History.Authenticity and Provenance guaranteed, sold as seen in respect of condition. (1) By direct family descent, Murty Tubridy to Mrs. C.D. Kelly.
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