ONE OF the few known copies of James Joyce’s earliest surviving published work was sold at auction in Dublin yesterday for €22,000.
A copy of the poem The Holy Office, typed on a single sheet of paper, had a pre-sale estimate of €15,000 to €20,000. Rare books auctioneers Mealy's said it had been bought by a "private Irish collector" during its sale of rare books, periodicals, maps and manuscripts at the Berkeley Hotel in Dublin.
George F Mealy, a spokesman for the family firm, said he “couldn’t get over the crowd” who attended the auction, where collectors spent over €500,000.
A collection of letters by the writer Brian O’Nolan (who wrote under the pseudonyms Flann O’Brien and Myles na gCopaleen) also made €22,000.
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