Adam's Works on Paper ONILNE Auction Ending August 10th 2020

106 Bidding ends 10am Monday 10 th August 288 THE VERY FIRST IRISH TIMES COLOUR SUPPLEMENT MAGAZINE, AUGUST 1981, produced by the Special Reports Department, edited by Niall Fallon, printed by Litho Universal, Bray, Co. Wicklow This edition of the Irish Times Supplement magazine was in fact never circulated. The interesting choice of a cover image of a photograph by Tom Lawlor of a supermarket in Cap d’Agde naturist resort in France clearly did not gain the approval of the Major Tom McDowell, the editor of the newspaper at the time of publication. McDowell is credited with overseeing the greatest expansion of the newspaper in it’s 150 year history, increasing the circulation to more than 105,000 copies a day. Following a distinguished military career where he rose to the rank of Major despite a knee injury early on disqualifying him from active service, he left the army and trained as lawyer. He was posted to Dublin to undertake a management position as legal advisor to the company James North Ltd and quickly became involved in the city’s elite business circles, joining the Kildare Street Club. His introduction to the world of newspapers, came through a request to examine the ailing finances of the Evening Mail, which had been acquired by The Irish Times. He was offered the position of Chief Executive of the paper in 1962, a position which he held for nearly 40 years. One can imagine, his reaction to the cover image and to multiple articles throughout the supplement about the naturist com- munity. It is understood that he ordered for the copies to be destroyed and the publication of the edition halted. The work of Niall Fallon’s department was never to see the light of day, with the Irish public spared from such indecency. This copy is the only known edition in existence. € 3,000 - 5,000 The Irish Times Supplement That Was Never Meant to be Seen