item number |
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| 51. | Manuscript - Lacy. “THE JOURNAL OF DAVID LACY, ON BOARD THE BARQUE ARCHER, CAPTAIN ARCHER, FROM LIVERPOOL TO MONTREAL.” 1830. 12mo. 162 pp. manuscript entries. About 18,000 words. Twenty-two year old Lacy, obviously intelligent, was traveling as a first class passenger on his first ocean voyage. Wide-eyed and full of enthusiasm, he records every details of the 46 day voyage across the Atlantic and down the St. Lawrence. It was a rough trip - “one would imagine the ship coming to pieces” and livestock roamed the main deck giving it the “exact appearance of a farmyard including sheep, pigs, dogs, cats, ducks, fowl all lose.” He records adventures with a drunken, pugnacious passenger, the purchase of fish on the Grand Banks, and highly detailed descriptions of the trip down the St. Lawrence to Quebec and Montreal, including a lengthy account of the Isle of New Orleans. Lacy’s penmanship is lovely, and his account is accompanied by his striking ink drawing of the Archer under partial sail in high seas. An artful and informative journal, rich in maritime and Canadian content. Bound in full leather. See Illustration $1750 |
| 52. | Manuscript - Letters to Isaac Hicks. COLLECTION OF 7 LETTERS TO ISAAC HICKS AND CHARLES DOUGHTY, NEW YORK, FROM RATHBONE, BENSON & CO., RATHBONE HUGHES & DUNCAN, AND JAMES DAVENPORT, LIVERPOOL. 1795-1801. 9 pp. manuscript. All these letters advise the New York mercantile firms of Isaac Hicks and Charles Doughty regarding conditions in Europe. “A bill will soon be brought into Parliament for returning the duty of 1d per pound already paid on Cotton imported in American vessels... The Situation of Europe in general & of this Kingdom in particular from the ruinous war, which we have so unhappily been engaged in, will continue to render the state of this Market very fluctuating.” A wealth of commercial information, including prices current, wartime conditions, etc., replete with Quaker locution. $450 |
| 53. | Manuscript - Newburyport, Massachusetts Whaling. ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION FOR THE ESSEX WHALING COMPANY. NEWBURYPORT, AUGUST, 1837. 4to. four pages of manuscript. One of the parties to this agreement, Titcomb & Lunt (or “Lunt & Titcomb” as Starbuck refers to them) were Newburyport merchants who had sent other whalers out of the port. In fact, the Adeline, mentioned in this document, had sailed from Newburyport in 1833, and was just returning from a 4 year whaling voyage. (See Lund, p. 372.) In this document, the partners agreed to purchase the ship, with all her rigging and equipment as she came in from her last voyage, for $8000. The purchase was to be funded by the sale of 200 shares to the partners, three of whom were selected to act as agents in fitting out the ship and planning her next venture - stated in the articles as a 24 month voyage to the “Brasil Banks, around the Cape of Good Hope and elsewhere.” Apparently, the venture died a-bornin’ and though other whaleships sailed from Newburyport, the Adeline was not among them. An interesting look at a side of the industry not often revealed. See Illustration $500 |
| 54. | Manuscript - O. Bing. Warner. WHALING LETTER FROM WARNER IN KINGSTON JAMAICA, TO SAMUEL & WILLIAM VERNON IN NEWPORT. 1755. 1 page manuscript. Warner informs his owners of his “misfortunes in carrying away our Bowsprit &c. in a gale of wind.” He was able to sell the horses which were part of his cargo at 7 pounds “in which I really look on myself as very lucky, considering the quantity of horses lately imported in this place.” He has not had as much success with the rest of the cargo, but hopes to sell it “down to leeward.” He then plans to sail to Georgia. “By the best information I can get Carolina has yielded a very plentifull crop of Rice this last year, and their prices are very low, which gives me grate Hopes of retrieving thy losses on our Voyage hither.” Early and informative. $200 |
| 55. | Manuscript - P. Vastel. THEORIE DES MERS... DISSERTATION SUR LE FLUX ET DE REFLUX DE L’OCEAN. SYSTEME NOUVEAU. PAR, M. VASTEL, ANCIEN PROFESSEUR AU COLLEGE A LISIEUX. Folio. 92 pp. manuscript This is apparently Vastel’s original manuscript for his book on tides and ocean currents, “Nouveau système sur le flux et le reflux des mers ou dissertation sur la vraie cause du flux et reflux de l'océan et de toutes les mers; suivie d'une autre dissertation sur les courans qui se trouvent dans les différentes mers, sous toutes les latitudes...” which was published in Paris in 1836. Apparently it was a rare work, only a single copy cited by Worldcat. And, though I can learn nothing more about the author or the book, it was certainly an early work on oceanography. The text here is neatly written but shows frequent corrections and additions. There is no question but what this was the author’s working manuscript. And as if that weren’t enough, the manuscript takes up only 92 pages, leaving several hundred blank pages of beautiful 19th century rag paper for the lucky owner. Bound in full vellum with string ties. See Illustration $1500 |
| 56. | Manuscript - Philander Smith. TWO WHALING LETTERS FROM WHALING MASTER PHILANDER SMITH, WHALESHIP CHEROKEE, MOWEE AND HOBART TOWN, TO WM. HATHAWAY. 1852 AND 1858. 2 pp. manuscript. These letters are from two separate Cherokee voyages; 1851 - 1855, and 1855 - 1860. In the first letter Smith talks about the difficulty of keeping his crew in Hawaii. “We went in to hilow (Hilo) too recrut ships has had a good del of troubal with men running away I had for too steel a boat Murphy Cook hurt and one boy that took the boat.” (Whew!) He goes on in a similar manner for the rest of the letter. In the second, from Hobert Town, he reports to Hathaway that he has refitted there for 18 more months of sailing, but that he had to sell some oil to get it done. He also remarks that he’s lost 200 bbl of oil due to bad weather, and adds other details of his voyage so far. According to Starbuck, this trip was only moderately successful, returning 153 sperm 565 whale, 250 bone, and sending home another 2600 pounds of bone. It was Smith’s last voyage as a Master. Informative, but atrociously written. $500 |
| 57. | Manuscript - Richard G. Luce TWO LETTERS FROM RICHARD C. LUCE, HOLMES HOLE TO WILLIAM HATHAWAY (NEW BEDFORD?) . SEPT. AND NOV. 1861, AND ONE DATED 1856. 3 pp. mansucript. Hathaway was a whale ship owner and Luce was a captain between 1829 and 1858 - rather incredible span. Here, he has swallowed the anchor and writes Hathaway regarding the purchase of a ship and certain financial matters $200 |
| 58. | Manuscript - S. P. Winegar. WHALING LETTER. SAMUEL P. WINEGAR, MASTER OF WHALESHIP JULIAN, HONOLULU, TO WM. HATHAWAY (NEW BEDFORD). APRIL, 1861. 4to. 1 page manuscript. Winegar writes from Honolulu, “Have not seen a whale since I left the Islands last fall... lost 9 of my Crew Could not Ship any there it looked dark for a stretch So I concluded I had better try it in the Arctic this Season I have had to ship 12 men and a first Mate” Whaling has been very slow and he draws on Hathaway’s accounts in Lahaina and Honolulu for $851. He says, “I shall persevere to the last.” Perseverance helped. According to Starbuck he came back in June, 1862 with 12,800 pounds of whalebone and another 2400 sent home, along with sperm and whale oil. The ship was sold to New York that year. It was Wineger’s last command. Excellent content regarding the relationship between a master and an owner. $350 |
| 59. | Manuscript - Sam Vernon. LETTER WITH WHALING INFORMATION FROM SAM VERNON, MONTEGO BAY, 1770. Folio. i page manuscript. Presumably Vernon is writing to his agents or owners, advising them of “a tolerable prospect of doing well if Capt. Anthony had not arrived so sudden on the back of me.”. He quotes prices realized for his cargo including oil and candles, but also such commodities as Turkeys, shad and cheese. “I should have sold all our cargo at these prices very soon had not he arrived, and directly upon it reduced the prises to the old customary prises as below.” At the bottom of the letter he quotes prices including sperm candles at 2/6 and oil 100/ to 110/. A handsome specimen. Early! $250 |
| 60. | Manuscript - Samuel Hake. LETTER FROM SAMUEL HAKE, SLOOP JAY TO HIS UNCLE JONATHAN READE OF POUGHKEEPSIE. 1796. 1 page manuscript. Hake has been collecting debts for his “Uncel,” and purchasing lemons and lace for his Aunt. “I Cald on Mr Winthrop with your letter & he has paid me 64 pounds on Accont... tell Aunt Reade that lemons, lace was all gone, & I had to buy the lace at another place.” With integral address leaf and seal. $100 |
| 61. | Manuscript - Schooner Fanny. TWO BILLS OF SALE FOR THE SCHOONER FANNY, NEW YORK, 1783. Folio. 2 pp. Printed from accomplished in manuscript. In these documents Freeman Hughes and Alexander Mather sell their 1/3 interest in the 80 ton schooner Fanny to John Spear for 166.13 pounds each. Both documents were printed by James Rivington, colonial printer who published the first daily newspaper in America. He began the Revolutionary War as a Tory, but by 1781 he’d begun to work as a spy for George Washington. Each document has been damaged in places by embers or highly acidic ink, with slight loss. The lot $125 See Illustration |
| 62. | Manuscript - Ship Astrea. INSURANCE POLICY FOR THE SHIP ASTREA, FROM NEW YORK TO WISCASSET, 1808. Folio. 3 1/2 pp. manuscript. A handsome document, entirely in manuscript, insuring the “vessel, Tackle, Apparel” on this voyage, and at any port along the way. Interestingly, given the date, the policy insures against depredations of “Men of War, Fire, Enemeies, Pirates, Rovers, Thieves, jettizons, Letters of Mark and counter Mark, Reprisals, takings at Sea, Arrests, Restraints and Detainments of all Kings, Princes & People...” A list of 16 insurers is given on the third page. Waterstain along vertical fold, but still attractive. $200 |
| 63. | Manuscript - Ship Atlantic. COLLECTION OF DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE 1831-1832 VOYAGE OF THE SHIP ATLANTIC. This lot consists of 37 receipts and a “portage bill” (the crew and their wages) for the Atlantic, Augustus Proal, Master. On Oct. 4, 1831 - May 8, 1832, she sailed from New York to Belfast and returned. These documents pertain to that voyage, and several, such as the provisions list of Nov., 8, 1831 (just before their departure) or the portage bill (showing who did what, and for how much pay, and which crewmen “run” ), are quite detailed. All are dated at New York. What makes this archive more meaningful is that the Atlantic, a 323 ton packet built ship, was employed in the Irish immigrant trade. See Cutler, “Queens” p. 157, 392.. See Illustration $300 |
| 64. | Manuscript - Ship Leopard. TWO DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO THE SALE AT AUCTION OF THE SHIP LEOPARD. CALLAO. 1853. Folio sheet, folded, and 4to sheet. 5 pp. manuscript. We’ve often seen mention of ships being sold at such and such a port, but never any detailed explanation of how such a sale took place. These documents fill that void. The folio sheet is a full accounting of the amounts expended at Callao unloading the ship, selling its cargo of Guano, and readying it for auction, including “Services of men - pumping day and night” pay and feeding of crewmen for 52 days (presumably during salvage operations), and various brokerage fees. She was being auctioned because she suffered damage - there are fees of surveys and certification of protest, etc. - and the document ends with a statement that “the vessel could not have been repaired within the amount necessary to justify an abandonment (of the claim)”. Overall, she brought $5154.36 at auction after charges were deducted, as against her insured value of $20,000, for a net loss of $14,845.64 after yet more charges. The guano was valued at $17,000. The second document is the Consul’s statement attesting to the auction, with the actual newspaper ad from Callao pasted to it. The ad claims she is “strongly built, sails well.” Auctions haven’t changed much... Bottom of last page stained, else VG. Fascinating stuff! $250 |
| 65. | Manuscript - Thomas Chapman. WHALING LETTER. THOMAS CHAPMAN TO WILLIAM HATHAWAY. HONOLULU. NOV. 8, 1867. Small sheet, 1 pp. manuscript. Chapman asks Hathaway (not named here, but identified in the archive from which a prior owner removed this letter) to look after his wife because a “she has been sickly” and a “Mr. Osborne... has not acted according to agreement” to pay over monies to her. “I wish you would insure for me my share of what whale Oill there is on board for me wich is about 330 bls.” A poignant whaling letter, indicative of the difficulties whalemen faced during long years away from home. $300 |
| 66. | Manuscript - Thomas Mullett. TWO LETTERS TO THOMAS MULLETT REGARDING MARITIME AFFAIRS, NEW YORK, 1808. Folio. 8 pp. manuscript, about 1700 words. James Robertson writes Mullett a detailed 6 1/2 page letter “with respect to the first burst of business on raising the Embargo.” and how this will effect commerce. He warns that although the Embargo has been lifted “the War Transportation Act will exist... until November when Congress again meets.” He advises caution and suggests “the Brazils” might be a good investment, then goes into a lengthy discussion of transference of funds and other business matters. “We are here in a compleat state of stagnation, looking with anxiety to the negotiations... perhaps a better time could not present itself for a general Peace.” In the second letter, Wm. Matlack (mentioned in Robertson’s letter) also advises caution despite the lifting of the Embargo - “I should not have authorized any employ of her (the ship) except upon purchase of the whole of the insurance... for it would be better to have the ship laid up at home without the tax (?) attendant upon employ, especially European.” Important content. $500 |
| 67. | Manuscript - Thomas W. Williams. LETTER OF THOMAS W. WILLIAMS, MASTER OF WHALESHIP FLORIDA, OF FAIRHAVEN, MARCH 3, 1861. 4to. 2 pp. manuscript. Williams writes from “Banderis Bay, Mexico” to his parents. He has his wife and children aboard, announces the birth of a daughter, “very white and good looking... Little Willie is running round decks and seems to enjoy him self first rate.” Regarding the Civil War he writes, “I sopose the Union will be desolved... let what will come Nigers or no Nigers according to the papers times is very hard in the states.” The Florida left Fairhaven in 1858 and was on her last year at sea. Starbuck reports that she was sold at San Francisco that year, with her oil and bone shipped home. Here, Williams tells his parents that he is bound for the Sandwich Islands. Presumably he headed for San Francisco after whaling on the line. Williams and family appeared to have enjoyed a long career. According to Lund he worked out of New Bedford until 1864, then out of San Francisco until 1878. An excellent, wide ranging whaling letter. $250 |
| 68. | Manuscript - Walter Seaman. TWO AUTOGRAPH LETTERS, SIGNED, FROM WALTER SEAMAN, BORDEAUX, TO THOMAS JENKINS & SONS, AND ALSOP & HICKS, NEW YORK, JULY, 1795. 4 pp. manuscript. Seaman advises these New York merchants of commercial conditions and shipping news. “The leather and skins would bring very little in short it is difficult to sell Dress’d Seal Skins at any price, those in the Hair might be bought here at a price that would answer.” The second letter discusses the loss of the ship Alexander - “she was lost after she arrived in the river by the Pilot I have not yet seen anyone that came in her but am informed that the ship is entirely lost.” He then goes on to discuss business conditions and the prices of commodities such as flour, rice, oil and beef. Interesting early discussion of American trade and trade goods. $300 |
| 69. | Manuscript - Wheelright, Charles. ACCOUNT OF LITTLE KNOWN NAVAL BATTLE OF USS SARATOGA AGAINST SPANISH SHIPS OFF VERA CRUZ MARCH 6, 1860. WRITTEN MARCH 8-10 ABOARD THE SARATOGA. 19 pp. manuscript letter. The Saratoga in this account was the third naval vessel of that name, a sloop of war launched in 1842. She had an eventful career fighting the slave trade in the 40s, and on the Perry expedition to Japan in the 50s. The incident referred to here took place during a Caribbean cruise and, surprisingly, is skipped over entirely in her record, as published in the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting ships. Wheelright was the medical officer aboard the Saratoga, and he gives a comprehensive, eyewitness account of the action in this 2500 word letter to his nephew. Mexico’s Liberal government had come to power in 1855 after overthrowing the Santa Anna regime. Opposing Conservative forces purchased two ships and supplies in Havana, to assist a planned campaign against the newly formed government. The Liberals notified American authorities that the ships should be considered piratical. On the night of March 6, the Saratoga’s squadron captured the vessels and sent them to New Orleans. His plans disrupted, General Miguel Miramon, in charge of the offensive, abandoned his offensive. The letter gives a blow by blow account of the battle and capture (many shots were fired), and of Wheelright’s part in it - “The Degos were terribly damaged... The wounded were taken to our ship. I amputated one arm and would have had several more... our berth deck a pool of blood. For 36 hours there was neither eating nor sleeping on board... The horrors of war in all their ghastliness reigned on our berth deck.” He gives his opinion of the political fallout of the action, and voices his support for the treaty that would empower the new reform government. He also defends the Saratoga’s actions, saying that the Spanish ships were sailing without colors and that the captain’s papers showed he intended to proceed to Africa for slaves after dropping off his supplies for the Conservatives. Ultimately, a federal court in New Orleans ruled the action illegal and returned the ships to Cuba. For some reason, possibly because news of the battle was not widely circulated, the capture of Spanish vessels did not become an international incident. A finely detailed account of a little-known American naval battle by an educated participant able to understand the ramifications of what he saw. VG. with typed transcript. See Illustration $2250 |
| 70. | Manuscript - William Tallman. WHALING LETTER FROM WILLIAM TALLMAN, AT SEA, TO SAMUEL H. HARTSHOIN. 1828. 1 page manuscript. Tallman’s ship (not named) is fishing the Line in company with two other New Bedford whaleships, the Roscoe and the William & Eliza. “I like whaling very well indeed & as to my health I have never enjoyed better in all my life. We have taken in all 24 whales which have made us 700 bbls oil.” With other pertaining to other whaleships. Tallman obvious responded well to the whaling life. He became master of the whaleship Lewis of New Bedford in 1841. $200 |
| 71. | Manuscript - Woodwell. MANUSCRIPT SHIPBUILDING CONTRACT BETWEEN JOHN WOODWELL BUILDER, AND NICHOLAS TOWER AND SOLOMON HOLBROOK, NEWBURY, MASSACHUSETTS, 1845. 4to. one page manuscript. The ship was to be sixty five feet length on deck, eighteen feet beam, and a draft of seven feet. The vessel was to be modeled after another that had previously been built for Captain Isaac Paine of Wellfleet, Massachusetts. The contract provided that construction would take just over eight months. Payment was to be made upon the delivery of the finished vessel at a price of thirty dollars per ton. The document is signed by Woodwell, Holbrook, and Tower. John Woodwell operated a shipyard in Newbury, Massachusetts, from about 1800 until 1853. The yard was originally operated by Gideon Woodwell, who bought property between Water Street and the Merrimac River in the spring of 1762. Prior to the close of 1773 it is estimated that Woodwell built fifty-two fishing and coasting vessels. During the Revolution the yard was abandoned. After the commencement of hostilities, in 1778 Gideon and his son John built a number of vessels. After the death of Gideon in 1790 the yard was again abandoned for several years. In about the year 1800, John, with his sons John, David, and Gideon, reopened the yard. They conducted a successful business for over fifty years. During this period nearly one hundred vessels were constructed. These ships varied greatly in size from fifty up to three hundred tons. It was John 11 who drew up this particular contract, though it was his brother Gideon who drew up the plans and built models for most of the ships. (See Chapter IX of Currier’s “History of Newbury.”) See Illustration $250 |
| 72. | Mayer, L. A. ISLAMIC ASTROLABISTS AND THEIR WORKS. Geneva. 1956. b/w plates. 123 pp. plus xxvi plates. Scholarly introduction, biographical sketches of astrolabists, list of monuments and collections, chronological list and lengthy bibliography complete this scarce and estimable work. Lovely plates. VG See Illustration $450 |
| 73. | Miller, Thomas. OVER FIVE SEAS AND OCEANS. NY. 1894. b/w plates. 12mo. 120 pp. “From New York to Bangkok, Siam, and return.” Author’s recollection of an 1857 voyage on a British bark, Oak. He lived in country as a trader for five years, and has vivid images of life in a country remote ins time. Scarce, not in Smith. A beautiful copy. Bound in original blue cloth with gilt cover design. See Illustration $250 |
| 74. | Patterson, Samuel. A NARRATIVE OF THE ADVENTURES, SUFFERINGS AND PRIVATIONS OF SAMUEL PATTERSON, A NATIVE OF RHODE ISLAND... AND A PARTICULAR DESCRIPTION OF THE MANNERS, CUSTOMS, &C. OF THE PEOPLE OF THE SANDWICH ISLANDS. Palmer, MA. 1817. 12mo. xii-144 pp. “This book is important for its descriptions of Fiji and Hawaii. Patterson visited Hawaii in 1805 and he was shipwrecked on Fiji in 1808. His work also relates to the coast of Guiana, Havana, Guadeloupe, California, the northwest coast of America, Australia and Canton.” - Hill 1315. The well-traveled Patterson also recounts voyages with Bainbridge aboard the frigate George Washington to Algiers in 1800-1802, and a slaving voyage in 1802. Howes notes that Patterson made three voyages to the Northwest coast. Howes P-122 (this edition “aa.”) Judd 141. Huntress 191C. Bound in original sheep, rebacked to match with spine label. Old water stain on title page. Pages evenly tanned. A nice copy of a book often found damaged or incomplete, when it can be found at all. $750 |
| 75. | Photo. ADOLPHUS GREELY AND MEMBERS OF HIS EXPEDITION. This photograph was taken in Newburyport some time before the expedition departed in 1881. Nine of the twenty-one men in the photograph are identified in pen on the backing card. Among them are Linn, Henry and Kislingbury, who died on the Expedition. Photo measures 6 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches. See Illustration $750 |