Rare copy of proclamation sold at auction

A rare copy of the 1916 Proclamation of Independence, signed by rebel leader Sean McGarry, sold tonight at auction for a record €360,000.

And in the same sale, which drew massive interest, a unique ’prison break’ letter written by Michael Collins was bought for 70,000 euro.

Adam’s and Mealy’s auctioneers who were hosting the sale in Dublin said the sought after pieces were sold to private Irish buyers over the phone.

“It’s a new record for the Proclamation, the previous record was a sale for 350,000 euro,” a spokeswoman for the auction said.

The hand-written and signed letter from Collins to his Republican colleague Austin Stack in Belfast Jail makes arrangements for a prison break.

It sold for well above the guide price of 30-50,000 euro.

Dated March 30 1919, Collins describes how to cut prison bars using a file or hacksaw and escape over the wall with ladders or explosives.

In the letter, which is incomplete, Collins says: “We did another job on Mountjoy last Saturday – twenty men are out and safe. This about finishes us with that jail for the moment.

“We now go for Belfast. If we got a hacksaw or a few files into you would these enable you to do any good ...

“My suggestion would be ... that you cut your bars so as to enable you to leave your cells at a time when we would have either a ladder for the wall, or if that ... is not practical we would make a breach.

“This latter would be extremely difficult from the mere point of explosives alone.

“However we may secure some gun cotton, which is almost the only stuff which would be effective ... Think this over and let us have your opinion.”

The third annual ’Independence’ sale featured a total of 650 lots featuring documents, medals and collectibles. The entire sale realised around 2 million euro.

The sought after Proclamation copy was signed by McGarry who served as Tom Clarke’s aide-de-camp and was stationed in the GPO with him and Padraig Pearse throughout Easter Week.

He survived the fighting and went on to become president of the Irish Republican Brotherhood’s new supreme council, working directly with Collins and becoming his close and trusted associate.

There are only around 50 complete original copies of the Proclamation surviving, many of which are held by institutions, and no more than a handful signed by participants in the Rising.