Saorstat Eireann, Irish Free State Official Handbook

1932, initialled by Henry Plumer McIlhenny of Glenveagh Castle

Author

Publisher

Printing Details

First UK edition. Hardback, bound in black cloth with faint gilt titling to spine. 25 × 15.5cm, 323pp with large folding map in pocket to rear.

This copy has been initialled by Henry Plumer McIlhenny from Glenveagh Castle in Donegal. McIlhenny purchased Glenveagh in 1938 (though he had been renting it since 1933). He was an American connoisseur of art and antiques, world traveler, socialite, philanthropist, curator and chairman of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

An official handbook for the Irish Free State (the name of the whole of Ireland from 1922 to 1937), with various author's writing about Ireland's history, geology, flora and fauna, constitution, religion, banking, trade, archaeology, art, education, transport etc etc. The book is illustrated throughout with charming woodcut chapter headings and initials, as well as drawings and paintings by Paul Henry, John Keating, Sean O'Sullivan, Estella F Solomons, Maurice MacGonigal, Mary Duncan, Hilda Roberts, and Harry Kernoff, as well as photographs of artefacts etc.

Condition

Fair condition only. Whilst the contents are clean and in strong readable condition, the black cloth is heavily mottled and slightly warped. There is scuffing to the boards' edges but the inner binding is secure. The large fold-out map is in good order, with a little creasing to the edges.