Yeats, W.B.

8vo, first edition, presentation copy inscribed by the author ("Mrs Shine from WB Yeats Oct 1916 | I was moved to write five of the | poems in this book by the | spectacle of your brother's heroic | attempt to do Dublin good | against its will. W.B.Y.") on front free endpaper, original cloth with design on spine and upper cover by Sturge Moore, dust-jacket, occasional browning, dust-jacket frayed with some loss to extremities, tear to dust-jacket upper cover repaired with laid-down paper, some soiling to dust-jacket

Wade A115

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 inscription is to Mrs Ruth Shine, the sister of Hugh Lane. Lane's 'heroic attempt to do Dublin good' was his protracted project to establish a Dublin gallery of modern art against some considerable opposition. His death on board the Lusitania in 1915 led Yeats and Lady Gregory (Lane's aunt) to argue that an unwitnessed codicil to Lane's will should be respected, but their efforts were in vain.

This volume includes a pencil note on page 76 by Lady Gregory noting that the poem 'An Appointment' was 'written at Coole when W.B.Y. rec[eive]d a telegram saying that Count Plunkett – and not Hugh – had been appointed to the Dublin Museum.' This refers to the appointment in 1907 of George Noble, Count Plunkett (1851–1948) to the directorship of the National Museum of Science and Art.

There are several inserted newspaper clippings (including two from Radio Times relating to Yeats broadcasting on the BBC). There is also a typescript of a poem ('When Yeats Shakes Hands') apparently published in the Chicago Tribune which is on headed notepaper from Coole Park.