Dun Emer Press.

Yeats, W.B. In the Seven Woods. 1903, [one of 325 copies], unopened, full linen, [Miller 1; Wade 49]--"AE" [Russell, G.W.] The Nuts of Knowledge. 1903, [one of 200 copies], signed "Lily Yeats | Dundrum | Dublin", unopened, [Miller 2]--Hyde, D. The Love Songs of Connacht [Preface by W.B. Yeats]. 1904, one of 300 copies, inscribed by the author with three lines from an irish verse signed 'An Craoibhín' (Hyde's pen-name), [Miller 3; Wade 260]--Yeats, W.B. Stories of Red Hanrahan. 1904, one of 500 copies, signed "Lily Yeats | Dundrum | Dublin", unopened, [Miller 4; Wade 59]--Johnson, L. Twenty One Poems... Selected by William Butler Yeats. 1904, one of 220 copies, signed "Lily Yeats | Dundrum | Dublin", [Miller 5; Wade 231]--Eglinton, J. Some Essays and Passages... Selected by William Butler Yeats. 1905, one of 200 copies, signed "Lily Yeats | Dundrum | Dublin", unopened, [Miller 6; Wade 232]--Allingham, W. Sixteen Poems... Selected by William Butler Yeats. 1905, [one of 200 copies], signed "Lily Yeats | Dundrum", unopened, [Miller 7; Wade 234]--Gregory, [I.A.] Lady. A Book of Saints and Wonders... 1906, one of 200 copies, signed "Lily Yeats | Dundrum Dublin", unopened, [Miller 8]--"AE" [Russell, G.W.] By Still Waters. 1906, [one of 200 copies], signed "Lily Yeats | Dundrum | Dublin", unopened, [Miller 9]--Tynan, K. Twenty One Poems... Selected by W.B. Yeats. 1907, one of 200 copies, signed "Lily Yeats | Dundrum | Dublin", unopened, [Miller 10; Wade 238]--Yeats, W.B. Discoveries. 1907, one of 200 copies, signed "Lily Yeats | Dundrum", unopened, [Miller 11; Wade 72]; all 8vo, original bindings (all but the first in linen-backed boards), all but last volume in ?original unprinted dust-jackets (last volume in glassine), lily yeats' bookplate, occasional browning, some dust-jackets frayed at extremities or short tears (11)

from the library of Lily Yeats

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The Dun Emer enterprise was founded in 1902 with the wish 'to find work for Irish hands in the making of beautiful things', as a collaboration between the Yeats sisters, Elizabeth and Lily (responsible for a printing press and embroidery workshop) and Evelyn Gleeson (whose field was craftwork). In 1907 a dispute between the Yeats sisters and Evelyn Gleeson led to a separation, and later works were published under the Cuala Press imprint.

Advised by the distinguished printer/engraver Emery Walker, Elizabeth Yeats acquired an old hand-printing press and 'a good 18th century fount of [Caslon] type, which is not eccentric in form or difficult to read', and established a simple and elegant format for small limited editions of literature, which remained unchanged through more than 40 years.

Selling partly by advance subscription, the new enterprise established a distinguished international clientele. Dun Emer's Day-Book shows that In The Seven Woods sold out within a month of publication; the purchasers included Lady Gregory, Oliver Gogarty (6 copies), W.G. Fay, Countess Plunkett, Pamela Coleman Smith, Rene Francis (Cairo), T.W. Rolleston, Clement Shorter, Mrs. Hinkson, R. Garnett, Thomas Mosher of Portland (5 copies), John Quinn of New York (5 copies), Sir Thornley Stoker (brother of Bram), Ella Young, W.R. Wilde, Thomas Wise, Mrs. (Phoebe) Traquair of Edinburgh, Elkin Mathews of London (13 copies), Grant Richards, Emery Walker, Prof. York Powell, James Cousins, various Yeatses and Pollexfens, and Lady Gregory again, who took the last 3 copies on September 23.

The early Dun Emer and Cuala publications were selected and closely edited by W.B. Yeats, and their content reflects his taste and the critical standard which he wished to establish.  Taken as a group, the series can be seen as an attempt - and largely a successful attempt - to define the canon of modern Irish literature in English.