1916 PROCLAMATION: THE ORIGINAL COPY An original copy of the foundation document of modern Irish nationhood, the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, headed 'Poblacht na hEireann / The Provisional...

1916 PROCLAMATION: THE ORIGINAL COPY An original copy of the foundation document of modern Irish nationhood, the Proclamation of the Irish Republic, headed 'Poblacht na hEireann / The Provisional Government / of the / Irish Republic / to the People of Ireland', as read by Patrick Pearse outside the General Post Office in Dublin on the morning of Easter Monday 1916 and posted around the city on that day to mark the opening of the Easter Rising. Single sheet printed one side only, letterpress, on the usual poor quality paper with a greyish tinge, paper size 30 x 20 ins precisely, length of printed line 18 ? ins (as required in Bouch's bibliographical analysis), height of printed surface 28 ? ins, separation between upper and lower sections ? in. (within the tolerances established by Bouch). Type a bit smudged in places, as usual. With the typographical variations noted by Bouch, and without those variations which indicate a later printing date. This copy differs from other original copies examined by us only in the following respect: three short vertical printed bars are visible in the top three lines of the second section (commencing 'The Irish Republic is entitled ..), towards right, before 'allegiance' and 'resolve' and after 'to'. This appears to be due to ink catching on vertical space-bars in the forme; it may indicate that the lower portion of this copy was printed early in the run, before the type had fully settled into the forme. [As is well-known, the Proclamation was printed in two parts, as there was insufficient type to set the entire document in a single run]. Generally in excellent condition considering its age and the nature of the paper, with some minor closed and open tears around the edges, not extending into the type surface, a few minor abrasions with no loss of type, a little crumpled at centre top where formerly folded. At some time this copy has been reinforced to rear, probably professionally, using lightly gummed transparent paper tape (not cellotape), and with short strips of cloth tape at top and bottom. If desired this tape could probably be professionally removed and/or replaced. The sheet has at some time been pinned at the top, leaving minor rust residues to face. Original copies of the Proclamation have always been extremely scarce. The document was set up and printed under Citizen Army guard at Liberty Hall on Easter Sunday, using type borrowed from several sources and a cheap lot of paper specially purchased by James Connolly from Saggart Mills (see the detailed account by Bouch, 1936 & 1954). The printing machine was an old Wharfedale Double Crown in poor condition. The compositors were Michael Molloy and Liam O'Brien; the supervising printer was Christopher Brady. The manuscript text has never been found; it is believed that it was based on a draft by Pearse, incorporating amendments by Connolly and possibly Thomas MacDonagh. The print run was reportedly over 2,000, but conditions in central Dublin in the following days were anything but conducive to the survival or distribution of so large and vulnerable a document. We believe it is unlikely that many more than 50 copies of the original printing have survived in good condition, and most of these are now in institutional collections from which they are unlikely ever to emerge. Provenance: Preserved by a Co. Longford family with Republican affiliations; further details on request.

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