Taoiseach Bertie Ahern viewed the original hand-written draft of the Irish National Anthem today ahead of its sale next week.
In his trip to James Adam Salesrooms on Dublin's Stephen's Green, he previewed other items including an original 1916 Proclamation and a 1916 tricolour, believed to have flown over the GPO during the Rising.
Opposition politicians have already urged the Government to buy the first draft of the words and music of the Irish National Anthem for the state.
Ahead of next week's public auction, called the 'Independence Sale', Stuart Cole, director of James Adam & Sons, said: "No sale on this scale and on this level of national importance has ever taken place before in Ireland, comprising unique and entirely irreplaceable items from the wars of independence that help write our history books.
"The national anthem is an exceptional sale highlight and will, of course, be of interest to many Irish collectors as well as a large number of specialist international buyers, so we expect competitive bidding throughout."
The original composition of the Irish National Anthem, Amhran na Bhfiann, marks the first time its author, Peadar Kearney, put pen to paper to draft the Soldiers' Song.
The hand-written version, which was signed by Kearney in 1907, is estimated to fetch between €800,000 to €1.2 million (£560,000 to £840,000) at auction.
Other artefacts Mr Ahern showed an interest in viewing before the auction included poignant letters written by and concerning Easter Rising leaders, Thomas Clarke and Padraig Pearse, and previously unseen architectural drawings for the GPO from 1814.
The 'Independence Sale', which will take place on April 12, includes around 300 lots of national interest such as rare republican sheet music by Countess Markievicz.