Rare Irish independence broadside to star in December 15 sale

A rare broadside proclaiming Irish independence is valued at £80,000-120,000 ($122,120-183,180) ahead of a December 15 sale at Sotheby's London.

The lot is one of around 50 surviving copies of the pamphlet, which was printed at Dublin's Liberty Hall on Easter Sunday (April 24) in 1916.

Irish republic Sothebys
The Easter Rising began on Easter Sunday, 1916

The Easter Rising saw an Irish republican force seize control of key locations in Dublin, and proclaim independence.  

They faced intense pushback from the British army and were forced to surrender a few days later, on April 29.

The republicans had intended to print 2,500 copies of the broadside, but only 1,000 were completed. The vast majority were destroyed during the British shelling of Liberty Hall - which was also doubling as a munitions factory.

It's valued at £80,000-120,000 ($122,120-183,180).

A publishing contract signed by Oscar Wilde is expected to make £40,000-60,000 ($60,294-90,441).

The document dates to 1893 and represents Wilde's agreement with publishing house Bodley Head to publish several of his books, including Lady Windermere's Fan and A Woman of No Importance.

Wilde fell out with the firm in 1894, after it refused to publish his The Incomparable History of Mr W.H. due to its gay subtext. He was arrested the following year.

The sale will also include a letter sent from Chairman Mao to future British prime minister Clement Atlee.

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