The Black Diaries. An Account of Roger Casement’s Life and Times with a Collection of his Diaries and Public Writings. London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 1959. Pp 536. Illustrated with photographs. Black cloth boards, title lettered in silver to spine, in publisher’s wine dust jacket printed in black. A fine bright copy.

Limited Edition of 2000 Numbered Copies.

Roger Casement (1864 -1916) was a Diplomat & Irish Nationalist. He worked for the British Foreign Office as a diplomat & later became a humanitarian activist, poet & Easter Rising leader.

During WWI he made efforts to gain German military aid for the 1916 Easter Rising. He was arrested, convicted & executed for high treason. Before the trial, the British government circulated excerpts said to be from his private journals, known as ‘The Black Diaries’, which detailed Homosexual Activities. Given prevailing views & existing laws on homosexuality, this material undermined support for clemency for Casement.