140
382 Shaw,GeorgeBernard, (1856 - 1950)
DramatistandWit. ASignificantCollection
.
This collection includes fourAutographCards Signed, two typed cardswith typed initials, twoALS and two related cards
fromShaw toPatrickO’Reilly, “Shaw’s cultural dustbinmanofDublin”, plus anumber of related items. By1946, nomajor
playwright since Socrates had lived so long as Shaw and the consequenceof this celebrated and fecund longevitywas a
mountainof fanmail, birthday cards andgifts. Shaw found all the fuss over his 90thbirthday tiresome in the extreme (one
of the cards “I cannot entertainvisitorsnow there are toomanyof them”).Hehad special postcards printed todealwith a
mountainof correspondence.
FormanyyearsPatrickO’Reilly, aDublindustbinmanhad collected small change fromhouseholds alonghis dust-
bin route, to finance the erectionof a commemorativeplaqueon thehouseof Shaw’s birth inSynge Street. Initially the
contribution fromDublinerswas insufficient todefray the cost. O’Reilly refusedoffers of help from abroad,wishing
thedefault to stand as a reproach to the city. O’Reillyhad submitted a florid inscription toShaw in1949,which the latter
immediatelyvetoed as “ablazing lie” and substituted amoremundane text.With thehelpof contributions from the
UnitedStates andBritain, a compromisewas reached, the results ofwhichmaybe seen at 32Synge Street inDublin.
The collection also includes items fromMrO’Reilly’s files. It includes apartial subscription list, a letter relating to the
plaque and its cost from the engravers and a copyofO’Reilly’s letter tohouseholders onhis bin route.One canunderstand
his frustration at thepoor response, despite the inclusionof someprominent subscribers onhis list
Anumber of the items of correspondence relate to the famousTrubetskoy sculptureof Shaw, now standingoutside the
NationalGalleryof Ireland inDublin’sMerrionSquare. The text of oneof the cards inShaw’swriting states: “the rule in all
NationalGalleries and inHouses of Parliament is that noportraits of livingpersonsmaybe exhibited less they should endby
beinghanged. The statuemust bekept in cold storageuntil I amdead, as I soon shall be. The rule is entirely right andproper;
andyoumaynowdrop the case.GBernardShaw” (signed).
And inoneof theALS “if ever theCorporationwants toplacemewithGrattan andGoldsmithonCollegeGreen, it canhave
the greatTrubetskoy statueofme in theNationalGallery reproduced for a fewhundredpounds, and set upwhere the glori-
ous pious and immortal pranced for somanyyears”.
“If itwere cast fromhismetalmyghostwouldbe enormously amused. Butwhynot buy it as scrap, and sell it toStormont as
apriceless relic.” and again, in ahandwrittenpostscript signed to another of the letters “Itwill be valued as aworkof art long
after I am forgotten”.
Aunique andmost interesting collection, full of Shawwit andwithmany references to theplaque for his birthplace
andotherDublin landmarks.
€3500 - 5000
