item number |
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| 51. | Hale, Dr. William. THE FEARFUL EXPERIENCE OF A GLOUCESTER FISHERMAN. Gloucester. n.d. b/w plates 77 pp. Contemporary account of Howard Blackburn’s epic struggle for survival. Separated from the “Grace L. Fears” on a fishing trip, he rowed his dory for several nights and days through a north Atlantic winter storm to the Newfoundland shore. This is combined with some background information and a poem by Hale about the event, as well as the crude woodcuts of Blackburn and his adventure. This and the account by Collins are the two contemporary accounts of Blackburn’s incredible story. Wrappers chipped but interior in excellent condition. $200 See Illustration |
| 52. | Hessen, Willard C. THE COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY OF LAKE SUPERIOR. Worcester, MA. (1950) b/w folding charts, photos. 4to. 129 pp. A doctoral thesis, printed in a presumably very limited quantity. “The purpose of this thesis is to present an analysis of the fishing industry from its infancy to the situation existing in 1947.” Illustrated with several real photographic prints of fishing shacks and sites. Bound in buckram. VG $75 |
| 53. | Hinz, Rev. John. GRAMMAR AND VOCABULARY OF THE ESKIMO LANGUAGE. Bethlehem, PA. n.d. (1944). xiii, 194 pp. First edition, and scarce thus. VG-Fine in original pebbled black covers with gold lettering. $75 |
| 54. | House of Commons. PAPERS RELATING TO AMERICA PRESENTED TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, 1809. Lon. 1810. viii, 178, (4) pp. This was the first public printing of documents relating to the 1807 affair involving the Leopard & Chesapeake, which became one of the hot button issues leading to the War of 1812. It includes correspondence between Pinkney and Secretary Canning, between Erskine and Robert Smith, (at that time acting Secretary of the Navy) and instructions to Erskine from Canning. According to its former owner (a librarian at the Boston Public Library) this copy came from Goodspeed’s, who purchased it from the library of Robert Smith. Smith was a Jeffersonian who served as Secretary of the Navy until 1809. It contains extensive underlining in Smith’s hand, and some noted he added to the text. (The book comes with a five page ms. transcription of Smith’s marginalia). Rebound in calf with original spine label. Howes P-60. Sabin 58464. $1250 See Illustration |
| 55. | Hydrographic Department, Admiralty. THE ANTARCTIC PILOT (AND SUPPLEMENT). Lon. 1948, 1952. b/w photo ills. 2 vols. 370, (1); 48 pp. “Comprising the coasts of Antarctica and all islands southward of the usual route of vessels.” Supplement is “second edition 1948, corrected to June, 1952.” Spence 43. VG condition $150 |
| 56. | J.F. Murphy, J.F. (publisher) SOUVENIR OF MARTHA’S VINEYARD. 31 lithographed images, probably from photos, of Martha’s Vineyard high spots, including notable buildings and dwellings, Oak Bluff and vicinity, Gay Head light, steamers, etc. On folding sheets opening to 9 x 5 1/2 inches, several images per page. Binding broken, images clean. $35 See Illustration |
| 57. | Jackson, Melvin H. (Editor) HISTORIC AMERICAN MERCHANT MARINE SURVEY. (THE) HAMMS, VOLUMES 1 THROUGH 7. Salem, NH. 1983. Color and b/w plates. 7 elephant folio volumes, various paginations Complete set of the premiere research tool for American merchant vessels of the 19th century. 1, 009 scale drawings (330 are foldouts 37"x18") of 360 ships, 198 photos, 49 sketches, 9 in color. Volumes I-IV, East Coast Vessels. Vol V, Great Lakes. Vol VI-VII, West Coast Vessels. Originally a WPA project in 1936-7, this is a modern reprint in sturdy binders on acid free paper in folio volumes measuring 18" x23". 7 volumes in fine condition. Shipping at cost. $3250 |
| 58. | Johnson, Barbara. THE BARBARA JOHNSON WHALING COLLECTION. NY. 1981-83. Color and b/w plates. 4 vols. Various paginations (about 150 pp. each) Sotheby’s four-part sale of about 500 lots per volume. This set the standard for whaling artifacts, prints, paintings and ephemera. It was followed by a lesser sale at Swann’s 15 years later. Out of print and hard to find as a complete set. 4 vols, wraps, light wear. $300 |
| 59. | Keate, George. AN ACCOUNT OF THE PELEW ISLANDS... COMPOSED FROM THE JOURNALS... OF CAPTAIN HENRY WILSON... Lon. 1788. Folding chart, b/w plates. xxvii, 378 pp. “This was one of the most popular of all shipwreck narratives, partly because of the happy ending, of the adventure and partly because of the detailed descriptions of the Pelew Islands’ natural features and society... Wilson exercised excellent control over his men, dealt smoothly with the natives... The crew set to work to build a schooner from native lumber, while some of their members fought for their hosts in native wars...”— Huntress 107C. When they returned to England they took one of the Pelew Islanders, Prince Lee Boo, with them. He was a celebrity but unfortunately died of smallpox. This is a first edition, in contemporary diced calf. Front hinge cracked, with a later repair. Some cover wear and light offsetting, but generally a VG copy. $650 See Illustration |
| 60. | Kugler, Richard C. WILLIAM ALLEN WALL. AN ARTIST OF NEW BEDFORD. New Bedford. 1978. Color and b/w plates. v, 72 pp. Exhibition catalog of a 1978 show at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Wall is noted for his superb documentation of the local scene in its 19th century heyday. Wraps, slightly wrinkled, but VG. $20 |
| 61. | Laing, Alexander. SAILING IN. THE STEREO BOOK OF SHIPS. NY. (1937) b/w stereo photos. 53 pp. Stereo photographs with text by Laing. Sliding metal stereo viewer with lenses is built into the back of the book. Unusual. Light wear, VG. $125 |
| 62. | Lawson, Will. BLUE GUM CLIPPERS AND WHALE SHIPS OF TASMANIA. Melbourne. (1949) b/w plates. 261 pp. Comprehensive history of whaling, trading and shipbuilding in Tasmania. With large folding map of Tasmania, King, Flinders and Maquarie islands and surrounding waters layed in. First edition, spine sunned, rather worn, else VG $40 |
| 63. | Lethbridge, T.C. BOATS AND BOATMEN. Lon. (1952) b/w ills. viii, 199 pp. Anthropological look at boats and boating in the European tradition, particularly in its examination of the magical and religious ideas that underlie surviving nautical customs. VG, dj. $75 |
| 64. | Linnaean Society of New England. REPORT OF A COMMITTEE OF THE LINNAEAN SOCIETY... RELATIVE TO A LARGE MARINE ANIMAL, SUPPOSED TO BE A SERPENT, SEEN NEAR CAPE ANN, MASSACHUSETTS, IN AUGUST, 1817. Bos. 1817. b/w folding plate. 52 pp. A great rarity, and the primary document relating to the sea serpent of Cape Ann, one of the most widely reported serpent sightings in American maritime history. First seen in Gloucester harbor in 1817, the creature reappeared off the coast in 1818 and 1819. Knowledgeable mariners and shore bound onlookers of all sorts reported sightings. A minister gave a detailed description of the monster, which was reported in Boston papers. The Linnaean Society sent three objective observers to the scene, and this is their report. In the spirit of strict scientific inquiry, it cites about 20 depositions by locals, provides information about a Norwegian sea snake to whom the mysterious serpent might be related, then gives a detailed description of “Scoliophis Atlanticus,” a baby sea serpent about three feet long, “killed upon the sea shore by some laboring people of Cape Ann.” The account closes with another sighting from Long Island. The folding plate of the baby serpent opens to nearly 30 inches. Pages untrimmed, edged chipped. Old stab sewing broken. The single-page plate of the dissected serpent is lacking. $1250 See Illustration |
| 65. | Lopez De Ayala, Don Ignacio. HISTORIA DE GIBRALTAR. Madrid. 1782. b/w folding plate. Sm 4to. xvi, 387 pp. First edition of one of the earliest histories of Gibraltar, tracing the occupation of this key fortress from the Saracens in the Middle Ages to the British, who were besieged by the Spanish during the publication of this work. Text in Spanish. This is a beautiful copy in original vellum. The folding plate of Gibraltar, showing more than 90 named points of interest, is fresh and clean. $1500 See Illustration |
| 66. | Manuscript. LOG BOOK OF THE ADA A. FRYE, JOHN G. FISH, MASTER. BOSTON - SAN FRANCISCO, 1868-1869. Unpaginated. (about 125 pp. manuscript entries.) This would be a rather perfunctory - albeit highly detailed - log of an ocean voyage around Cape Horn to San Francisco, except for one thing. The author soliloquizes at length about what he’s thinking, what he and his mates are doing, and what it all feels like. He admits at the end that his writings were not intended “as a sample log... but merely as my own private journal.” And so we share his unusually candid thoughts. He’s homesick a lot. He and “Brown Charlie get together evenings in the dog watch and sing over some old songs” because doing so reminds them of home. As he’s battling through the Straights of Magellan, he thinks of his young son. In the doldrums, he wishes for nothing so much as a “drink of cold water.” And just getting underway, we learn it is “a little lonesome to be at sea without a boat for in case of accident we have nothing to help ourselves with.” This and many more such observations bring a sailing voyage to life. Sewing broken. Text clean and legible. $750 See Illustration |
| 67. | Manuscript. LOG OF THE RAM LANCASTER NO. 3. 1862. This appears to be a fair copy made sometime in the 1870s (1873 is the latest recorded date) of events occurring immediately after the Battle of Memphis in June and July, 1862. The journal was kept by Sylvester Doss, pilot aboard the Lancaster, and it features Alfred (?)Ellet, brother of the man who originated the concept of the steam ram, and who had just died from wounds suffered in the Battle of Memphis. Doss’ journal has been transcribed onto folio sheets, possibly by Doss himself at a later date. (Notes about the original manuscript, part of which was destroyed in a shipboard fire, make it clear that this is a later transcription.) The first 14 pp. of manuscript give an account of the Lancaster’s voyage down river after Memphis. On June 26th, they turned up the Yazoo, and discovered the rebel ram fleet burning. Much daily detail is given, of the countryside, of rebels, deserters and Negroes encountered. In the next section Doss records a crippling battle with the Arkansas, resulting in damage to the Lancaster and several deaths. (A copy a contemporary newspaper account is pasted to the front board of the journal. The wording of the article in some places agrees with the wording in this journal, but someone has pasted Col. Ellet's name at the bottom of it.) This is followed by a 15 pp. typescript “Ellett & the Rams” describing Charles Ellett’s invention of the ram concept and the battle of Memphis, then by a 7 page typescript entitled “The Flag of Memphis,” describing an “incident that followed the battle of the rams” involving brave conduct by Ellet’s son, Charles. This is followed by the typescript of a news article about Col. Ellet. This is followed by the third manuscript section - 7 pages by Doss (transcribed in the same hand as earlier writings) - “History of the Arkansas Ram.” This piece gives its construction details, and then Doss’ account of the fatal battle of July 15, 1862. Then follow 11 pages of typescript transcriptions of contemporary news articles. These are followed by 82 pages of manuscript entries in a different hand recording riverboat disasters and losses, 1816-1873, plus a list of vessels, and where and when they were built. Contemporary news articles on the Battle of Memphis and other river news of 1862 on front and back pastedowns. Bound in old boards, backstrip perished, sewing weak. Housed in a black clamshell box with gold spine title “Log of the Ram Lancaster.” $3500 See Illustration |
| 68. | Manuscript. NEWPORT IN THE FIFTIES. 43 pp. manuscript. 8,000 - 10,000 words. This anonymous manuscript was written in 1908, in response to a characterization of old Newport that had appeared in Henry James’ “The American Scene” in 1907. James wrote of the old inhabitants as a priggish and pretentious lot. The writer unearths an old manuscript from the Fifties to disprove James’ assertions. She first states her purpose then quotes at length the offending passages from “The American Scene.” Then, relying on the old manuscript, she names two dozen of the old families, describes their origins and accomplishments, and goes into detail about how they passed their time - including the patriotic Civil War contributions of this group, formation of “the first (known) Woman’s Club in America” and a dramatic club. (The insistently feminist tone of these recollections leads me to suppose the writer is a woman. In fact the manuscript is anonymous.) After a description of the scenic highlights of Newport in the Fifties she demonstrates the intellectual capability of her group by citing several examples of an intricate word game, and by quoting at length several poems, essays, and other literary efforts, including a particularly charming and revealing effort entitled “Unprotected Female in Newport.” As of 1908, the author notes, “all (but one) have passed away.” But that lone survivor has left us a poignant, charming and highly detailed picture of the social scene in Newport in the 1850s. Probably a second or later draft, on 8 1/2 x 11 paper, very neatly executed, but with portions of text lined out and corrected, notes appended and some corrections tipped in. VG $1500 See Illustration |
| 69. | Manuscript. PROTEST OF THE BRIG JANET, CAPT. JOHN GRIFFITH, MASTER. 1793. Folio. 10 pp. manuscript entries. The Janet was to carry a cargo of corn to Oporto. Down in Hampton Roads, after picking up a crew, they opened the hatches, and to their astonishment the corn was too hot to touch - it seems to have caught first by spontaneous combustion. The cargo was condemned, but the documents do not say how the hot stuff was unloaded. Three page protest with handsome seal, signed by principals, and a copy of Janet’s log, March 27 - May 22, 1793. Most unusual! $750 |
| 70. | Manuscript. RECEIPT SIGNED BY EDMUND MARCH BLUNT. Receipt for “Sixty dollars & fifty cents cash part of the above trade” dated March 29, 1805(?) signed by Blunt. $75 |
| 71. | Manuscript. SECTIONS OF THE SCHOONER ROSE CABRAL 1890. 1/2" = 1'. 18 sections drawn in pencil on white cardboard. These came from the library of Charles Sayle, but I have no knowledge of their origin or accuracy. $35 |
| 72. | Manuscript THREE DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO CAPT. JOHN ORDRONAUX AND THE PRIVATEER PRINCE OF NEUFCHATEL. Three tantalizing documents pertaining to the career of famed privateersman Capt. John Ordronaux and his swift and successful schooner Prince of Neufchatel. There is a letter from William Bass, American consul at L’Orient, stating that Ordronaux had turned over two British prisoners who would be exchanged. The second, a folio sheet written on both sides, appears to be a settling of prize accounts by Ordronaux among 19 named crewmen. It is written in French and dated Paris, 1816. The third, three pages of manuscript under a printed letterhead dated 1816(?), is Ordronaux’ marriage license to Elizabeth, daughter of his patron Mme. Charretton. $1250 See Illustration |
| 73. | Map. Homann, Ioh Baptista (Johann Baptist). NOVA ANGLIA. SEPTENTIONALI AMERICAE IMPLANTATA. ANGLORUMQUE COLONIIS FLORENTISSIMA. GEOGRAPHICE EXHIBITA. Nuremberg. 1716, b/w engraving, colored. Second state (Manhattan is labeled "N. Loch"). 19 x 22 1/2 inches, engraved hand colored map with elaborate cartouche showing the Northeast sector of the New World, including most of present day New Jersey, New York, Long Island, Cape Cod (where the Outer Cape is shown as an island), the coast of Maine to the St. John River, a small portion of the west coast of Nova Scotia, the St. Lawrence River in the north, a portion of the Great Lakes to the west, and a few additional landmarks that either do not exist or are out of proportion. The homelands of the various Native American tribes are shown in addition to the names of towns and geographical features. Soundings are shown around shoals and banks. Homann (1662 - 1724) was Imperial Geographer of the Holy Roman Empire. Paper trimmed to outer edge of border, else very good, some toning, nearly imperceptible soiling, two short tears neatly repaired and hardly noticeable. $2250 |
| 74. | Mitchell, J.A. THE SUMMER SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY AT MT. DESERT. NY. 1881. b/w ills. 4to. 24 pp. Two dozen full page plates of whimsical scenes (with captions) from Mt. Desert, Maine, in which summer visitors do their things, witnessed, urged and imitated by little putti sort of creatures... chubby winged babies. Quite the Victorian confection in silver, gold and silver decorated cover. Spine ends worn else VG. $200 See Illustration |
| 75. | Morison, Samuel Eliot. ADMIRAL OF THE OCEAN SEA. Bos. 1942. b/w plates, fldg. maps. 2 vols. xlv, 448; 445 pp. First edition of Morison’s classic study of Columbus in its complete form, with notes, maps and material not present in the single volume condensation. Backstrip of vol I very lightly sunned, else VG. 2 vols. $100 |