Archive puts spotlight on how The Gaiety Theatre was built in just 28 weeks

Des O'Sullivan previews an auction offering everything from theatre memorabilia to rare editions of classic books

The Gaiety Theatre archive at Fonsie Mealy.

From the rapid construction of The Gaiety Theatre in Dublin in 1871 to an incredibly rare 1823 second edition of Frankenstein, and from the Carton House music collection, to the earliest printed house contents sale catalogue in Ireland, Fonsie Mealy’s rare book and collections sale in Castlecomer this week covers a multitude.

The catalogue notes that the much-loved Gaiety, which opened in 1871 and continues merrily to this day, was reputedly built in just 28 weeks from start to finish.

Contrast that with a certain Event Centre in Cork, where the first sod was turned ten-and-a-half years ago, and sod all has happened since.

An archive of around 200 vellum patents and legal documents relating to The Gaiety — a theatre where Sarah Bernhardt, Eileen Terry, Pavarotti, Maureen Potter, Jimmy O’Dea and the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company all performed — is estimated at €7,000-€9,000.

The Carton House collection of 18th and 19th-century music, purchased at the 1949 dispersal sale, is among the largest collections of music from an Irish stately home to come to market.

Music by Handel, Beethoven and Haydn is included among 45 volumes in original calf bindings, many of which are signed by the Duke of Leinster (€5,000-€7,000).

A first-edition copy of 'From Russia, with Love' at Fonsie Mealy.

The newly discovered catalogue by Baillie Auctioneer for the sale of the goods of the late Edward Wingfield at Powerscourt and his house in Dublin (€3,000-€5,000) announces (confusingly) that it will begin “on Tuesday the 25th day of February 1728-29 and to continue till all are sold”. 

It lists contents from 45 rooms with lots ranging from 24 fine walnut chairs with Barbary leather seats, a Turkey carpet, five pairs of yellow Indian damask curtains, to “one young black Stone Horse fit for an officer” and a stage coach with a new seat cloth never used since it was relined.

Irish and international literature is headed by a rare 1823 edition of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, a second (1813) edition o f Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and a signed limited-edition printing of Seamus Heaney’s Bog Poems.

A sonnet handwritten by William Wordsworth with provenance to the de Veres of Curragh Chase and the O’Briens of Dromoland Castle is estimated at €1,500-€2,000.

A 1951-1952 photograph of Brendan Behan and

A photograph dating from 1951-1952 of Brendan Behan and Micheál MacLiammóir by Daniel Farson (€700-€900) and a first (1957) edition of From Russia, with Love by Ian Fleming (€350-€420) feature among the fascinating lots.

The most expensively estimated of these is the Moore Street flag of truce, a white linen handkerchief used by Volunteers to surrender during the East Rising (€10,000-€15,000).

There is a rare 1918 printing of The Proclamation of the Irish Republic, a 1916 Volunteers green tunic and a 1920 letter signed by Michael Collins as minister for finance.

Sporting memorabilia includes a programme for an early soccer international between Ireland and England at Goodison Park, Liverpool, in 1907 and a 1914 All-Ireland football final programme between Kerry and Wexford, which ended in a draw.

The three-day sale takes place this Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (June 23, 24 and 25).

The lots are on view in Castlecomer tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon and from 10am to 5pm on Monday. The catalogue is online.

A letter signed by Michael Collins as minister for finance.