WB Yeats family collection sale exceeds estimates at Castlecomer auction

Over 200 lots of items including paintings, letters and personal memorabilia, many of which were never seen before and offer a unique insight into Irish literary and artistic history through the eyes of the family of WB Yeats were auctioned in Fonsie Mealy’s Chatsworth  Salerooms in Castlecomer yesterday.
Items of interest such as a pair of W.B Yeats spectacles and original portraits generated much interest and well exceeded the conservative starting prices.
 A pair of Yeats' ‘Pince-Nez’ optical glasses, thought to be 19th century were conservatively estimated at between €500-600. They fetched  €10,000 under the hammer.
One of only two known signed and compiled sketchbooks to exist from W.B Yeats time in Art College in Dublin (1884-85) guide-lined at  between €3,500 and €5,000 and went for €17,000.
A rare original fine ink sketch by John B. Yeats of his son W.B. sold for €21,000.
A monogrammed briefcase belonging to W.B Yeats, which he  subsequently gifted to his son Michael, sold for €3,400.
A set of Tarot cards designed by Pamela Colman Smith, thought to belong to Georgina, wife of W.B Yeats, conservatively estimated at between €450 and €600, fetched €4,800. A poignant photograph of Maud Gonne, from W.B’s collection sold for €1,300.