Proclamation of the Irish Republic 1916 Rare Half Sheet Copy of the excessively rare half sheet of the 1916 Proclamation.The present example measures 37.5cms x 50.5cms, frayed at edges, smudged...

Proclamation of the Irish Republic 1916 Rare Half Sheet Copy of the excessively rare half sheet of the 1916 Proclamation.The present example measures 37.5cms x 50.5cms, frayed at edges, smudged ink, & with small piece torn away with some loss. As a poster, w.a.f. The full proclamation because of its size and lack of sufficient type could not be accommodated in full on the Wharfedale printing press in Liberty Hall, and had to be printed in two parts.The top half was printed first. The type was then re-set to print the bottom half. After the required run was completed, believed to be around 1000 copies, the work of distribution began immediately, and the lower half of the typeset was left in the press. The British soldiers, when they captured Liberty Hall, whether on orders or out of curiosity, printed off some copies from the printing press. A few of these half-sheets were kept as souvenirs and are exceedingly rare. The present copy clearly displays the lack of experience and knowledge by the soldiers in using the press. John O'Connor in his book ''The Story of the 1916 Proclamation'' states those half-sheets are very rare ''but one such copy is in Kilmainham Jail.'' Joseph Bouch in ''The Republican Proclamation of Easter Monday 1916,'' D. 1936, claims the half-sheets were printed on two different coloured paper, and that less than ten examples are recorded.

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