89
1919. Illustrated letters from Jack Morrow in Mountjoy Prison. (4)
Estimate:
€600 - €800
Sold
€700
Timed Auction
The History Sale
Description
Description: Letters with cartoons and satirical texts by a well known Dublin artist, imprisoned for possession of seditious documents, also an engraving of Jack by his brother Edwin.
Note: John Cassell (Jack) Morrow (1872-1926) was a political cartoonist, illustrator and landscape painter.Jack Morrow was the most politically active amongst his siblings and was a regular contributor to The Irish Review, The Republic, and other Irish journals. Along with his brothers Harry, Edwin and Fred, he was instrumental to the success of Bulmer Hobson's Ulster Literary Theatre in its early years.His cartoons, amongst others, shown through a magic lantern, were an early attraction at Bulmer Hobson's Dungannon Clubs in 1905. Cartoons were an integral part of The Republic magazine, and Morrow's cartoon Catching Recruits became one of their best known anti-enlistment graphics after its publication in December 1906, and associated postcard sales from the same issue. By 1912 Jack Morrow had become a member of the Wolfe Tone and United Irishmen Memorial Association Committee which was a radical organisation and a legal front for the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Morrow collaborated with Joseph Plunkett and Thomas MacDonagh's Irish Theatre Company in the opening season in April 1915.Morrow returned to political cartooning in 1917, but on 6 September 1918 he was arrested in possession of seditious postcards and secret Government documents at his home in D'Olier Street. Morrow's health declined, and after a week of imprisonment without charge, he was transferred to the Mater Hospital for treatment where he remained for some seven weeks. Morrow was released without charge in December and re-arrested a month later. Morrow was court martialled on 28 January 1919 when he refused to recognise the jurisdiction of the Court and entered no plea. In February he was sentenced to seven months in Mountjoy Prison with hard labour, under the Defence of the Realm Act, for unauthorised possession of confidential government documents.
Note: John Cassell (Jack) Morrow (1872-1926) was a political cartoonist, illustrator and landscape painter.Jack Morrow was the most politically active amongst his siblings and was a regular contributor to The Irish Review, The Republic, and other Irish journals. Along with his brothers Harry, Edwin and Fred, he was instrumental to the success of Bulmer Hobson's Ulster Literary Theatre in its early years.His cartoons, amongst others, shown through a magic lantern, were an early attraction at Bulmer Hobson's Dungannon Clubs in 1905. Cartoons were an integral part of The Republic magazine, and Morrow's cartoon Catching Recruits became one of their best known anti-enlistment graphics after its publication in December 1906, and associated postcard sales from the same issue. By 1912 Jack Morrow had become a member of the Wolfe Tone and United Irishmen Memorial Association Committee which was a radical organisation and a legal front for the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Morrow collaborated with Joseph Plunkett and Thomas MacDonagh's Irish Theatre Company in the opening season in April 1915.Morrow returned to political cartooning in 1917, but on 6 September 1918 he was arrested in possession of seditious postcards and secret Government documents at his home in D'Olier Street. Morrow's health declined, and after a week of imprisonment without charge, he was transferred to the Mater Hospital for treatment where he remained for some seven weeks. Morrow was released without charge in December and re-arrested a month later. Morrow was court martialled on 28 January 1919 when he refused to recognise the jurisdiction of the Court and entered no plea. In February he was sentenced to seven months in Mountjoy Prison with hard labour, under the Defence of the Realm Act, for unauthorised possession of confidential government documents.
Condition
Some folds and minor faults, very good and very legible.
