PETRIE, G., OTWAY, C., O’DONOVAN, John. & HARDY, P.D. Ed. by. The Dublin Penny Journal 1832-1836.

Four volumes. Profusely illustrated. Four volumes in two. Dublin: Folds & Hardy, 1832/36. Royal octavo. Contemporary half brown morocco on marbled boards and cloth, titled in gilt. Bindings not matching. Spine of second volume rebacked, preserving original. Occasional faint foxing. A good set. Rare.
George Petrie along with Caesar Otway edited the fifty-six issues of the Dublin Penny Journal, in which Petrie wrote many of the antiquarian articles himself. Philip Dixon Hardy (1794-1875) Irish poet, bookseller, printer and publisher, edited the Dublin Penny Journal from 1833. He also introduced the use of steam-powered printing presses in Ireland that year. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin. The editors carefully chose the subjects which in their opinion would attract the attention of Irish people - namely, the history, biography, poetry, antiquities, natural history, legends and traditions of the country, subjects which can never fail to interest the feelings of an intelligent race. It was in an article in this journal that Ferguson later wrote, in 1840, about its significance as a contribution to “disinterring and bringing back to the light of intellectual day, the already recorded ‘facts’, by which the people of Ireland will be able to ‘live back’, in the land they live in”.
Illustrated with beautiful engravings (after Nicholl, Hill and Clayton) of ancient monuments, castles, artefacts and places of interest. An important journal with a feast of articles by such noted scholars as James Clarence Mangan, John O’Donovan, George Petrie, P.D. Hardy, Caesar Otway, Mrs. S.C. Hall, Terence O’Toole, Denis O’Donoghue, &c.
Contents includes: Anecdotes; Antiquities; Biographic Sketches; Cathedrals; Churches; Critical Notices; Farming; Legends and Stories of Ireland; Miscellaneous; Natural History; Poetry; Science, Simple; Tales and Narratives; Topographical Descriptions - Abbeys, Castles, Cities and Towns, Cromleachs, Gates, Hospital, Houses and Mansions, Round Towers, Ruins; Useful Recipes, etc.

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