1916 PROCLAMATION: THE ORIGINAL PRINTING An original copy of the first printing of the Proclamation of the Provisional Government of the Irish Republic to the People of Ireland, printed at Liberty...

1916 PROCLAMATION: THE ORIGINAL PRINTING An original copy of the first printing of the Proclamation of the Provisional Government of the Irish Republic to the People of Ireland, printed at Liberty Hall on the evening of Sunday 23 April, and read by Patrick Pearse outside the General Post Office in Dublin on the morning of Easter Monday 1916 at the opening of the Easter Rising. Single sheet printed one side only, letterpress, on the usual poor quality paper with a greyish tinge, framed and glazed. With closed tears at top and bottom (professionally repaired), extensive fold marks, one tiny hole with no loss of text, generally in attractive condition in spite of signs of wear. With the various typographical peculiarities identified by Bouch [1936] as indicating the original printing, and without any of the features which identify later printings. Type a bit smudged in places, as usual. With three short vertical printed bars visible in the first three lines of the second section (commencing 'The Irish Republic is entitled ..'), probably due to space bars catching the ink, as in the copy sold in these rooms in April 2012. Visible dimensions of paper (within the mount) 29 ½ ins x 19 ½ ins; depth of printed surface 28 ¾ ins, separation between upper and lower parts of document ½ in. Length of printed line, as measured in the frame, 18 1/8 ins at top, 18 ins at bottom. This last measurement is very slightly smaller than that indicated by Bouch (18 ¼ in.); we believe this small difference is accounted for by the fact that the document is slightly rumpled and does not lie completely flat in the frame. In all other respects the document is consistent with Bouch's measurements and findings. We believe it to be genuine and authentic. Signed on back of frame 'Eamonn Bourke'' and with the signature of a Commissioner of Oaths, and with an original certificate of authenticity issued by Eamonn de Burca of De Burca Rare Books 2001, a witnessed affidavit to the same effect signed by Eamonn Bourke, and two certificates dated 1999 and 2001, both signed by John Farrell (Preservation Officer) and Donall O Luanaigh (Keeper) of the National Library of Ireland, giving as their opinion that 'this particular copy is part of the first printing of the Proclamation'. These documents may be inspected on request, and will be passed to the purchaser. The Proclamation of the Irish Republic, recognised as the founding document of modern Irish nationhood, was drafted probably by Patrick Pearse, possibly with amendments by Thomas MacDonagh and James Connolly. The original manuscript has never been found. The text was printed under armed Citizen Army guard at Liberty Hall on the evening of Sunday 23 April 1916, using paper bought by James Connolly for his Workers' Republic and a font of type borrowed from a nearby printer. The type available was insufficient to set the entire text; hence the various improvised letters (notably the non-matching 'e's), and the need to print the document in two parts, running all the sheets through the printing machine twice (the part first printed ends with the third paragraph). It is believed the print order was 2,000 copies, of which the vast majority perished in the storm of fire, shot and shell unleashed in Dublin in the following days. Previously unknown copies still appear from time to time, but our best estimate is that no more than 50 attested copies of the first printing are now extant, and a majority of these are in institutional collections where they are likely to remain. Provenance: Eamonn de Burca, purchased from a client who stated it came originally from a house in Harcourt Street which at one time was a 'safe house' for Michael Collins; private collection.

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