BUNREACHT NA hÉIREANN (Constitution of Ireland) with signature of Eamonn de Valera.

Dublin: Stationery Office, [1978]. Crown octavo. pp. v, [1], 214. Original printed pale blue wrappers bearing the Irish harp to upper cover and priced “10p” to lower panel. With tipped-in autograph of Éamon de Valera, adding an appealing association with one of the principal architects of modern Ireland and the driving force behind the adoption of Bunreacht na hÉireann in 1937. A very good copy in the original wrappers. Internally clean and bright throughout.

In May, 1935 Eamon De Valera instructed John J. Hearn, the Law Officer of the Department of External Affairs, to prepare the heads of a new constitution to replace that of the 1922 Free State Constitution. Drafted principally under the supervision of Éamon de Valera, it established the office of President of Ireland, recognised Irish as the first official language, and laid the constitutional foundations of the modern republic. In preparing the various drafts, he conferred with the leaders of the various religious denominations. Under the Constitution, the new title of the state became Eire (Article 4). It affirmed the unity of the country, stating that "the national territory consists of the whole island of Ireland, its islands and the territorial seas" (rescinded by the Good Friday Agreement).

The Irish Constitution, which was published on 1 May 1937, met with a hostile reaction from the British press, but did not unduly disturb their government. It was approved by the Dail on 14 June and submitted to the people of Ireland in a referendum held on 1 July, the same day as the general election. The result was a massive majority for both the referendum and Fianna Fáil.
Copies signed or inscribed by de Valera are increasingly sought-after in the Irish historical manuscript and political memorabilia market.

A desirable piece of Irish political and constitutional history connecting directly with the formation of the modern Irish State and one of the most significant documents in twentieth-century Ireland.

[L4 10A]