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The History Sale
30 AN IRISH “SUCCESS TO THE VOLUNTEERS” CREAMWARE TRANSFER PRINTED JUG, C.1780,printed in iron-red, the inscription “Success to theVolunteers” to one side
and contained within a wreath of fruiting vines surmounted by a barrel, the
opposing side depicting the British national personification John Bull defending
his territory from the “Master Boney”, the British satirical reference to Napoleon
Bonaparte, the caption below the scene reads: “The Governor of Europe Stoped
in His Career”. 14cm high, 15cm wide over handle and spout
The IndependentVolunteer Companies were formed across Ireland towards the
end of the 18th century to protect the country from the threat of French and
Spanish invasion.These creamware jugs were made in order to raise funds for the
Companies.This particular example is thought to have come from a member of
the RaphoeVolunteer Corps in Co. Donegal as it was allegedly later in the Do-
negal militia’s officers’ mess. On the occasion of the disbandment of this militia
at the beginning of the 20th century, it was given as a memento to one of the
officers and has been in the possession of his family by descent to the present day.
€ 500 - 700
30A NEWENHAM, SIR EDWARD,Two letters dated 1782 from Sir Edward Newenham, MP for Co. Dublin and
IrishVolunteer to his son Edward then under education in Switzerland.The
first dated March, details an accident in which 97 men were badly wounded,
it contains detailed descriptions of the military uniforms of the 1782
volunteers.The second, dated May, indicated activities of theVolunteers,
opposition to King and Government. Both have scarce “Bishop”
and other postal markings; together with two other letters, dated 1824 and
1826 to Edward junior, by then a Captain in the British Army in France. Both
letters have very fine “(ex) ANGLETERRE” postmarks in red (1824) and
black (1826). (4)
€ 800 - 1,200