This week, when Adam's auctioneers held a major sale of historic memorabilia, the provenance of at least two of the items sold was unclear. One of the last letters of Patrick Pearse, which happily was bought by an anonymous benefactor and given to the National Museum, belonged to Senator Margaret Pearse, who left the manuscripts in her possession to the State.
Though there was no question of dishonesty on anyone's part, the identity of the seller was not revealed and the provenance of the letter was not made public. In the same sale, a rare Blueshirt uniform was put up for auction even though the 90 year-old sister of the man who had worn it told the Enniscorthy Echo that she had never sold it and was unaware that it was being auctioned. Again, there is no question of anyone acting in bad faith, but the lack of transparency in this case further highlights the need for a clear public policy on the sale of items that form an important part of the historic record.
Of its nature, much of this kind of material is dispersed in family homes all over Ireland. Its owners, many of them now elderly, are usually well aware of its personal and historical value. They may not be aware, however, that a very lucrative market for historic memorabilia has developed in recent years. (The Blueshirt uniform alone sold for €14,000.) The potential for abuse, as well as the public interest in the proper management of a significant part of the national heritage, argues for the development of a legislative framework. In the run-up to the centenary of the 1916 Rising, there is an opportunity, as well as a necessity, for the State to adopt a structured approach to this issue.
One arm of State policy in this area should be a review of the incentives and other mechanisms that may help to encourage donations. Given the current upsurge of interest, it would be timely for the major State institutions in the field to begin a systematic search for significant material and launch a campaign urging members of the public to present or lend historic relics to museums and libraries.
At the same time, however, there is a need for regulation to create greater transparency in the marketplace. There should be a central database of historic documents and artefacts, and changes of ownership should be registered. Institutions such as the National Archives, National Museum and National Library should have the right to be informed of the intended sale of such items. Above all, it should be a requirement that the provenance of all artefacts be established and revealed before any sale takes place.