Beschreibung:

GERARD CROFTS A copy of 'Le Chien du Capitaine' by Louis Enault, 1914, with signature of Gerard Crofts, q.93, 19.4.17, Lewes Prison, and inscription 'To Margaret O'Callaghan [later his wife] as a little token of gratitude'; the book containing signatures in the margins of many other Republican prisoners at Lewes Jail, including Eoin MacNeill, Brian O Maoildhia (Co. Galway), Padraig Ua Fathaigh, William P. Partridge, Countess Markiewicz (p. 12), Tommie Furey, Colm O Gaora, Diarmuid Ua Loingsigh, Aibhistin de Staic, Sean Mac an tSaoi [McEntee], Deasmumhan Mac Gearailt [Desmond FitzGerald], Henri Ua Beollain [Harry Boland], Eamon de Valera [p. 95], , Roibard O Breandain [Robert Brennan], 'Patsy Patrick' [Sean Etchingham] with a poem, Piaras Beaslai, Peadar MacFhlannchadha [Clancy], Prionsias O Fathaigh [Frank Fahy], Fionan O Loingsigh [Lynch], Seosamh Mac Aonghusa [Joe McGuinness], Liam Toibin, Pilib Mac Cosgair, Liam T. Mac Cosgair [Cosgrave], Seoiorse O Pluingceid, Eoin O Pluinceid, and many others, most with their prison numbers and details of sentences, many with a later inscription 'R.I.P.'. With an original poem on p. 130 by 'q.90' [Harry Boland], saluting Gerard Crofts as 'a blue eyed fair haired Orpheus' sent by the God of Song, to sing the songs of Innisfail and 'cheer the weary hours of night ', and another on p. 175 signed R. O'B. [Robert Brennan], ending 'Your silvery tongue shall hail our Queen / The day we crown our Dark Rosaleen.' Brennan had a cell just over Crofts' in Lewes; in his memoir 'Allegiance' he describes how 'every night he would give us a few songs from his vast repertoire. His voice was never very powerful but he was a real artist, and could make any and every old song sound beautiful'. A superb collection, one of the best we have seen, with well over 100 names including many rare signatures. Provenance: Crofts collection, by descent. GERARD CROFTS A copy of 'Le Chien du Capitaine' by Louis Enault, 1914, with signature of Gerard Crofts, q.93, 19.4.17, Lewes Prison, and inscription 'To Margaret O'Callaghan [later his wife] as a little token of gratitude'; the book containing signatures in the margins of many other Republican prisoners at Lewes Jail, including Eoin MacNeill, Brian O Maoildhia (Co. Galway), Padraig Ua Fathaigh, William P. Partridge, Countess Markiewicz (p. 12), Tommie Furey, Colm O Gaora, Diarmuid Ua Loingsigh, Aibhistin de Staic, Sean Mac an tSaoi [McEntee], Deasmumhan Mac Gearailt [Desmond FitzGerald], Henri Ua Beollain [Harry Boland], Eamon de Valera [p. 95], , Roibard O Breandain [Robert Brennan], 'Patsy Patrick' [Sean Etchingham] with a poem, Piaras Beaslai, Peadar MacFhlannchadha [Clancy], Prionsias O Fathaigh [Frank Fahy], Fionan O Loingsigh [Lynch], Seosamh Mac Aonghusa [Joe McGuinness], Liam Toibin, Pilib Mac Cosgair, Liam T. Mac Cosgair [Cosgrave], Seoiorse O Pluingceid, Eoin O Pluinceid, and many others, most with their prison numbers and details of sentences, many with a later inscription 'R.I.P.'. With an original poem on p. 130 by 'q.90' [Harry Boland], saluting Gerard Crofts as 'a blue eyed fair haired Orpheus' sent by the God of Song, to sing the songs of Innisfail and 'cheer the weary hours of night ', and another on p. 175 signed R. O'B. [Robert Brennan], ending 'Your silvery tongue shall hail our Queen / The day we crown our Dark Rosaleen.' Brennan had a cell just over Crofts' in Lewes; in his memoir 'Allegiance' he describes how 'every night he would give us a few songs from his vast repertoire. His voice was never very powerful but he was a real artist, and could make any and every old song sound beautiful'. A superb collection, one of the best we have seen, with well over 100 names including many rare signatures. Provenance: Crofts collection, by descent.