Irish nationalist, activist, and poet (1864–1916) who was executed for treason following the Easter Rising. Scarce ALS, two pages on two adjoining sheets, 6.25 x 7.75, Eden-Hotel Berlin letterhead, April 10, 1915. Letter to Franklin von Bunsen. In full: “I am sorry I cannot get the copy of ‘Kathleen ni Houlihan’ from my friend Fraulein A. Meyer—the sister of Professor Kuno Meyer the great Irish-Celtic scholar. I send her card to me to show you the attempt already made. It is a pity we cannot get a copy. I hope you have good news from the fronts.” In fine condition, with intersecting folds. Casement went to Germany in 1914 at the outbreak of WWI, and was able to negotiate an agreement by which Germany would not invade Ireland, should the war spread to its shores. During the rest of his time in Germany he attempted to recruit an ‘Irish Brigade,’ comprised of Irish prisoners-of-war from the prison camp of Limburg an der Lahn, to fight against the British. This plan failed, however, and Casement went on to try and arrange a large arms shipment from Germany to his countrymen—this too failed, when the ship was intercepted on its way. He returned to Ireland and was arrested just before the Easter Rising, and was controversially convicted and sentenced to death under an ambiguous medieval law. Of particular note, Casement mentions Kathleen Ni Houlihan, a nationalist symbol representing Ireland personified and most notably used in a one-act play written by William Butler Yeats and Lady Gregory in 1902—most likely what Casement desired a copy of. A fantastic letter with significant connections to Casement’s life and work, as well as the Irish nationalist movement itself. RR Auction COA.
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