Limerick.com -Antiques - the city of Frank McCourt & Angela's Ashes

Documents of historic significience

Land Lord and Tennant Agreements dating from the Penal years are extremely rare. They were never sealed and the tenant was not considered an equal to the landlord. Only agreements betweeen economic equals were sealed and embossed. Agreements between landlords and tenants were always on paper.

Of the 3000 landlords who owned the land of Ireland only about 500 papers exist relating to estates.

Most of the landlords were absentee landlords and the rents collected from Irish tenants, financed a high-society lifestyle in London.

For collectors looking for rare historic documents, I've got a number of excellent pieces for sale at present.

A velum deed dated 1879 containing details of the estate of a Limerick doctor, Dr. Patrick Joseph Clarke, who obtained a sizeable estate in India valued at Ł1,500. Complete with seals and signitures.

A velum deed dated 1644 with the seal of the archbishop of Canterbury, concerning a Limerickman, Mr. dudley Baxter.

This deed is in perfect condition and bears all seals and signitures. Again this would be of interest to scholars, academics and investors.

A very rare Landlord and irish Tenant agreement dated 1812. This is from the estate of The Right Honourable Charles Henry Lord Castlecoote to Mr. William Browne Esq. This agreement relates to property in Limerick and the Massey family.

Another very rare manuscript of the Irish Horse Society. Also letters from the Irish Olympic Horse Society. This would be of interest to scholars, academics.

Quality Irish Georgian Furniture is another rare commodity and an excellent investment yielding good returns.

Furniture was collected or more probably commissioned by landlords who accumulated only a few pieces in a lifetime. Ireland is unique in so far as ithad become traditional not to sell on family collections, but to pass them on to the next generation.

As a result there now exists some of the finest collections of Irish furniture in Anglo Irish estates dating from several periods in the history of the family.

If the family had a military presence youwill often see a huge collection of war instuments dating through several periods of European history. On the other hand if the family had an artistic influence, you will more than likely come across excellent works of art and manuscripts.