Seamus Heaney and James Joyce rarities go under the hammer

First editions from Seamus Heaney, James Joyce and Mark Twain were among the rare books under the hammer at Fonsie Mealy Auctioneer’s winter sale.

More than 800 lots of books, manuscripts, maps and works of art were auctioned at the Gresham Hotel, including previously unpublished notes and historical artifacts.

The standout lot from the auction was an “excessively” rare Benjamin Franklin imprint, going for €12,000. It was described as “an exquisite copy of this excessively rare volume, known only in a handful copies world wide.” The last copy sold at auction more than 70 years ago.