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Leabhar Nua ar Aireamh, Cuid V (New Arithmetic Book, Part Five) is a rare original school textbook published by Brún agus Ó Nualláin Teoranta of Dublin, one of the foremost Irish language publishers of the early twentieth century. Printed entirely in traditional Cló Gaelach — the distinctive Gaelic script typeface — it delivers a full course in fractions and arithmetic entirely through the medium of Irish. Surviving copies in any condition are genuinely uncommon; this is a complete example running to its full 176 pages with all text legible throughout.
The book belongs to the Leabhar Nua ar Aireamh series compiled by Aodh Mac Giolla (Aod Magill) and produced for Gaelic-medium primary education during the Irish language revival period, most likely dating from the 1920s to 1940s. It represents a formative chapter in Irish educational and cultural history, when the new Irish state was actively restoring the language to classrooms after centuries of suppression.
This copy is for collectors of Irish language revival ephemera, historians of Irish primary education, Gaelic language researchers, and anyone with a serious interest in the cultural and political project of twentieth-century Ireland. The multiple period handwritten inscriptions — including what appears to be a previous owner's name on the front cover — add genuine provenance character that a clean reprint simply cannot replicate.
| Title | Leabhar Nua ar Aireamh, Cuid V |
| Series | Leabhar Nua ar Aireamh |
| Volume | Part V (Cuid V) |
| Author | Aod Magill (Aodh Mac Giolla) — Seán na Caola |
| Publisher | Brún agus Ó Nualláin Teoranta, Dublin |
| Language | Irish Gaelic (Cló Gaelach script throughout) |
| Subject | Mathematics — Fractions & Arithmetic |
| Era / Decade | Early 20th Century, approx. 1920s–1940s |
| Country of Origin | Ireland |
| Format / Binding | Softcover paperback, staple bound |
| Cover Colour | Blue-green card |
| Pages | Approximately 176 (complete) |
| Inscriptions | Yes — multiple, in ink and pencil |
| Original / Reproduction | Original |
| Condition Grade | Used — Acceptable |
This is a heavily used but complete and legible copy. The soft blue-green card cover shows heavy soiling, foxing spots, and staining, with significant wear to all corners and edges. The spine is splitting and frayed at both the head and tail, with the staple binding now exposed and the staples showing rust. The front and rear covers carry multiple handwritten inscriptions in ink and pencil, including owner names and scribbles; the title page also has heavy pencil and biro marks.
Internally, the pages are toned and age-browned throughout with general foxing. There is notable rust staining around the staple binding that runs through a number of pages in the centre of the book. Despite all of this, all pages are present and intact — no loose leaves, no torn-out pages — and the printed text is readable throughout. This is very much a working survival with strong historical character rather than a display piece.
Q: Is this an original period copy or a later reprint?
A: This is an original copy, not a reproduction or facsimile reprint. The physical materials — the aged card cover, the Cló Gaelach typesetting, the staple binding and the period inscriptions — are all consistent with an authentic early twentieth-century Irish publication.
Q: Are all 176 pages present? Are any pages torn out or loose?
A: Yes, all pages appear to be present and accounted for. No leaves are loose or missing. The book is complete to page 176. The close-up photographs of the interior show the general condition of the pages accurately.
Q: How legible is the text given the age and condition?
A: The printed text is readable throughout despite the foxing, age toning and rust staining around the staple. The Cló Gaelach typeface is clear and intact on all pages. The staining and foxing affect the paper itself but do not render any of the printed content illegible.
Q: What do the handwritten inscriptions say?
A: The most prominent inscription on the front cover appears to read a previous owner's name — visible in the photograph showing the full front cover. There are further pencil and ink marks on the title page and elsewhere. These inscriptions are part of the book's provenance and history rather than defects.
Q: Is this suitable for academic research or institutional collection?
A: Yes. Original Irish language school textbooks from the revival period are genuinely scarce, and this is a complete copy of a title that rarely surfaces. It would be of interest to university libraries, museum collections, or private researchers working on Irish language education history, though buyers should note the condition is used and well-worn rather than archival quality.
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A genuinely rare piece of Irish language revival history. Thank you for looking.