item number |
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| 51. | Hahn, Harold M. THE COLONIAL SCHOONER, 1763-1775. Annapolis. (1981) b/w plates. 4to. 176 pp. New system of plank-on-frame construction, which Hahn describes in step-by-step manner in these well-illustrated pages. First ed. VG, dj. $50 |
| 52. | Harrisse, Henry. DECOUVERTE ET EVOLUTION CARTOGRAPHIQUE DE TERRE-NEUVE. Amsterdam. 1968. b/w plates. 4to.lxxii, 416 pp. Reprint edition of classic on cartography of the new world. VG $50 |
| 53. | Haselden, Thomas. THE SEAMAN’S DAILY ASSISTANT, BEING A SHORT, EASY, AND PLAIN METHOD OF KEEPING A JOURNAL AT SEA; IN WHICH ARE CONTAIN’D RULES, SHEWING HOW THE ALLOWANCES FOR LEE-WAY, VARIATION, HEAVE OF THE SEA, SET OF CURRENTS, &C. ARE TO BE MADE, AND TO CORRECT THE DEAD-RECKONING BY AN OBSERVATION IN ALL CASES... Lon. 1768. Small 4to; (8), 160 pp. Haselden was a seaman who taught mathematics in the Royal Navy. This was a standard and widely reprinted work. Adams & Waters cites advertisements for this title as early as 1745. See A&W 2030, locating but one copy of the 1768 edition. This is a remarkable association copy. Several early owners including Edward Yard, John Sturgis, Abram Outten of Baltimore Town, Isaac Outten, and Jonathan Carpenter annotate the endpapers and pastedowns. For example, Yard writes: “Ship’d on board the Venus Brigg John Earl commander in Maryland the 17th of August 1777 Sail’d 21st ditto and was taken by his Majestys Ship Enterprize September 19th 1777 and carried to Giberalter...” He goes on to detail his adventures in captivity. His jottings are added to by John Sturgis who notes that he joined the schooner Molley on 27 September 1776, “November 23th 1776 it Being on Sataday and very Calm and We Lay Betwen St. Kitts and St. Estashea a Bought One O’clock we Saw a Boat Roaying (rowing) from St. Estasha to words (towards) us which Prove to Be a man of Wars Pennis (pinnace) and Boarded us and Tuck (took) us and carded (carried) us into Sandy Point and Left the Schooner thare and tuck us a Board of man of war Cept (Kept) us a fortnight.” Bound in contemporary full calf, rebacked with new spine label. A fascinating artifact with ten pages of jottings from the Revolutionary War era. $650 See Illustration |
| 54. | Hauk, Z. William. THE STONE SLOOPS OF CHEBEAGUE. Bos. 1953. 4to. b/w line ills. Closely researched history of these vessels, with firsthand narratives, biographies, genealogies and line drawings by Hauk, containing a good bit of Maine local history. Second, revised edition, VG. $125 |
| 55. | Hobbes, Thomas. LEVIATHAN, OR THE MATTER, FORME, & POWER OF A COMMON-WEALTH ECCLESIASTICALL AND CIVILL Lon. 1651. b/w frontispiece, folding table. Folio, (4), 394 pp. Hobbes’ masterwork advocating strong sovereign authority, and one of the great books of western thought. This is the second of three editions bearing the Andrew Crooke 1651 imprint. It was published the same year as the true first edition, but with a “bear” as the typographical ornament on the title page rather than a “head,” and it was actually printed in Amsterdam rather than London. However, aside from alterations on the title page and a change in the ornament on the Introduction page, the text is the same. This is a good sound copy in contemporary boards, rebacked to match. One leaf, Y2, pp. 165-166, appears to have been tipped in from another copy. The pages are evenly tanned, and there are some marginal pencil notes. Though not maritime in content, I’ve included it in the catalog because I’ve always wanted to sell a copy of the “other” great whale book. $2000 |
| 56. | Horsburgh, James. INDIA DIRECTORY, OR DIRECTIONS FOR SAILING TO AND FROM THE EAST INDIA, CHINA... Lon. 1841, 1836. 4to. 2 vols. xiv, (6), 683; (6), 740 pp. A mixed set, of the fifth and fourth editions, but uniformly bound, and both with the 1848 ownership inscription of Thomas Downward, ship Hannah Salkeld. One of the major books on navigation for East Indies and China trades in the 19th century. It contains descriptions of coastal features along all the routes from England to the east, and includes information on lighthouses, hazards to navigators, etc. One of the reasons for its continued use was that Horsburgh (who himself had experience in these waters) continued to update his book using the most recent accounts and reports. Though it went through at least 8 editions from the time of its initial publication in 1809 to the middle of the 19th century, it is today a scarce book in any edition. See Ferguson 1083. Bound in half calf over marbled boards. Backstrips somewhat scuffed but sound. Vol 2 lacks spine label. $600 |
| 57. | James, William. FULL AND CORRECT ACCOUNT OF THE CHIEF NAVAL OCCURRENCES OF THE LATE WAR... Lon. 1817. b/w plates. xv, 528, ccxvi, (16) pp. An important work on the War of 1812, with much on naval battles, but written from a British point of view , which earlier American historians found offensive. J.R. Soley, for example, says, “Its tone is... offensive and its comments are of the same scurrilous character... The War of 1812, with its absurd generals and its farcical strategy, affords a fine opportunity for caustic humor, but James only makes it the occasion of a tirade of vulgar abuse.”—Narr. & Crit. Hist. VII, 425. Smith II, 1186. Plates depict grape shot, the frigate President and the Frolic. Bound in original calf over marbled boards with new spine labels. Light foxing. This is the copy of Capt. Charles Hewitt, Royal Navy, with his bookplate and a presentation inscription from his friend Lt. Dunn. $450 |
| 58. | Jenkins, James Travis. BIBLIOGRAPHY OF WHALING. Glo. MA. 1998. pp. 71-166. This was published first as an article in the Journal of the Society for the Bibliography of Natural History. It was subsequently reprinted, but has long been out of print. Jenkins' work has not to this date been superseded. It remains the only systematic bibliography of whaling, and as such, is a necessary reference. This reprint edition is limited to 200 copies. Bound in blue buckram with gold spine lettering. $55 |
| 59. | Jones, Henry M. SHIPS OF KINGSTON. Plymouth, 1926. Color frontis, b/w plts. 4to. 130 pp. Portraits, lists of vessels, vessel histories. First Edition. VG-Fine. $75 |
| 60. | King, W(illiam) R(ice). TORPEDOES: THEIR INVENTION AND USE, FROM THE FIRST APPLICATION TO THE ART OF WAR TO THE PRESENT TIME. Wash. 1866. b/w folding plates. iv, 98, 21 folding plates, & (1) pp. Notable especially for its 33 engraved plates, distributed on 21 folding leaves. A general treatment of every torpedo known to the Corps of Engineers at the close of the Civil War. The first section of the text provides brief descriptions of “Rebel Torpedoes;” followed by “Union Torpedoes.” Rebel torpedoes are described as: Spar Torpedo, Swaying Room Torpedo, Turtle Torpedo, Shell Torpedo, Submarine Torpedo, River Torpedo, Current Torpedo, Fretwell's Percussion Torpedo, Ground Torpedo, Hydrogen Torpedo, Arm Torpedo and Horological Torpedo. Union torpedoes are categorized as: Northrup's Submarine Battery, Lanyard Torpedo, Cable Cutter, Shell Torpedo, Wood And Lay's Torpedo, and Bridge Torpedo. Also included are: Fulton’s Clockwork Torpedo, Fulton’s Gunlock Torpedo, Jacobi Mines, Chinese Infernal Machines, and Obstruction Torpedo. The text goes on to describe torpedo fuses, both foreign and U.S. made, and torpedo experiments. Rebound in later cloth. VG $1750 See Illustration |
| 61. | Kline, M.S. and G.A. Bayless. PUGET SOUND FERRYBOATS. Seattle. (1983) Folding color frontis. map, b/w plates. Sq. 4to. 401 pp. The entrepreneurs who originated this vital service, and all the vessels of each fleet. Photos, bios, lists of vessels. Excellent local and industrial history. First ed. Fine in dj. Signed by both authors. $65 |
| 62. | La Pérouse, J.F.G. de. A VOYAGE ROUND THE WORLD, IN THE YEARS 1785, 1786, 1787, AND 1788.... Lon. 1799. 42 engraved charts, plans, and plates, many folding. Three vols. First English-language edition. This Johnson octavo edition is said by Forbes and Hill to precede the Stockdale edition of the same year which had been traditionally regarded as the first English edition. Forbes, 288; Hill 974; Ferguson 270. Bound in contemporary tree calf, rebacked. A very good copy, with some minor foxing or staining, mostly very clean, and with good margins. $4500 See Illustration |
| 63. | Landais, Peter. MEMORIAL TO JUSTIFY PETER LANDAIS’ CONDUCT DURING THE LATE WAR. Bos. 1784. b/w engravings. Small 4to. 115 pp. Landais was a French naval officer who accepted a captain's commission in the Continental Navy in 1777. In 1778 he was given command of the frigate Alliance. In 1779 he cruised in company with John Paul Jones in Bon Homme Richard along the French and British coasts until October, when the famous encounter with the Serapis occurred. Following the battle Landais was accused by Jones of insubordination and treachery. He was court martialled in 1781 and discharged. He returned to France and served credibly in the navy there, then returned to the U.S. to press his claims for prizes and restitution of rank. Landais wrote this book to give his account of what took place. He attempts to justify his conduct, and to illustrate his points he employs diagrams of the positions of the ships involved in the action. In addition to his long account of the battle, there is much on the activities of the American delegation in France led by Benjamin Franklin. A most important work for the early history of the American navy and a firsthand report of one of the most famous incidents of the American Revolution. Howes L55. Seitz, p. 177. Evans 18549. Sabin 38827. With Sixteen miniature engravings - each engraved separately and pasted into blanks provided by the printer - of ship positions, one restored in pencil, and an engraved errata, also pasted in. Bound in antique-style gilt decorated half calf and marbled boards by Root & Son, London. This copy bears the ornate leather bookplate of Frank C(utter) Deering, prominent Portland, Maine collector of printed Americana. Rare. OCLC shows only six libraires holding copies. To the best of my knowledge no copy has appeared in the trade or at auction in the past decade at least. Copies that have appeared in the past lack some or all of the engravings and are imprefect in one repsect or another. This one is complete and in excellent repair. (WITH) “Report of the Secretary of State on the Memorial of Peter Landais.” Wash. 1806. 16 pp. - James Madison presents the evidence that Landais captured three vessels while Captain of the Alliance. Removed from larger volume. VG (AND) “Report of the Committee Claims on the Memorial of Peter Landais.” Wash. 1810. 15 pp. - The committee revisits the entire Alliance affair and rejects Landais’ claim for prize money. Bound in later boards. VG. The lot. $10500 See Illustration |
| 64. | Manuscript. ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT. SHIP HARVEST, KENNEBUNK, ME, 1861. D.C. LORING, CAPTAIN, AND NINE CREWMEN. Tall folio, 26 x 13 3/4 inches, partially printed, with manuscript entries. A nice Civil War era example of so-called “shipping papers,” where nine crewmen sign aboard the Harvest at the Consulate in Newcastle on Tyne for a voyage from Shields to Portland, ME. Age, nationality, height, wages and advance given to each crewmember are listed here, with Consul’s signature and seal beneath. A tall piece of paper, and a handsome document. $100 |
| 65. | Manuscript. AUTOGRAPH LETTER, SIGNED, FROM AMERICAN ASTRONOMER AND INSTRUMENT MAKER W. C. BOND TO CAPT. J. NACH AT TREMONT HOUSE. BOSTON, NOV. 23. CIRCA 1800. Single sheet, 6 x 6 inches, with integral address and seal. William Cranch Bond (1789-1859) was a prodigy, making the first chronometer in New England at age 15. According to the DAB, “For many years preceding the War of 1812 the chronometers of most ships sailing out of Boston were rated by his instruments.” In this note he writes Capt. Nash about a chronometer, acting as agent, for Nathaniel Bowditch. “Mr. Bowditch has this morning seen your chronometer No. 4215 and will take it at 400 Dolls giving his note at 12 months, interest after six. This is the utmost he will do as he had made up his mind to go this voyage without one. Have the goodness to give an answer today, as he will leave town tomorrow for Salem, whence the ships sails. I called at the Tremont but you had gone out.” Bowditch made five voyages between 1795 and 1803, after which he swallowed the anchor. In these early days of navigation it was not unusual for mariners to undertake voyages without chronometers, which were still “high tech” and cutting edge for the common merchantman Good content. Signed by Bond. $450 |
| 66. | Manuscript. CAPTAIN’S ORDERS. NEWPORT, 1768. Folio, 1 1/2 pp. manuscript. James Tanner instructs Capt. Ignatius Battan to sail the sloop Hope to Hispaniola, pick up a load of molasses, exchange vessels with John Tanner on the Venus, who was bringing “as much money with him as you will have occasion for, to purchase a load of molasses.” Battan was then to go back for another load of molasses. By that time, John Tanner should have returned from “Charles Town,” ready to swap ships again. “If it cannot be done he must come to Newport.” Battan and his officers were to sell their privilege hogsheads to Tanner for a compensation of $24. An excellent commercial document from the colonial era. $150 |
| 67. | Manuscript. DIARY OF LYMAN B. SPERRY. NORTH BANGOR, NY, 1862. 24mo., about 120 pp manuscript entries. This diary covers the eight month period leading up to Sperry’s enlistment in the 98th Regiment of New York Volunteers. It is a particularly revealing narrative, because it frankly discusses social and political pressures and viewpoints in his village regarding military service. The last third of the journal covers Sperry’s training and early service, and leaves him bound for Fort Monroe on a gunboat in the James River. Miscellaneous notes and day book entries follow the journal, mostly relating to his life in upstate New York. But among these entries is a list of clothing and supplies that he received on joining his regiment. Bound wallet style in limp leather. VG $650 |
| 68. | Manuscript. DOCUMENT CERTIFYING THE MARRIAGE OF PELEG COGGESHALL AND DEBORAH FOLGER, 1796. Folio sheet, 17 x 14 inches. Peleg and Deborah, “Having declared their intentions before... several Monthly Meetings... and having Consent of their Parents... appeared at a public assembly of the aforesaid people... in the Meeting House in Nantucket...” to pronounce their vows and sign this document, “She, after the custom of Marriage, assuming the name of her husband.” Signed also by thirty-two witnesses who were presumably members of the meeting. A lovely old manuscript document evoking 18th century Nantucket. Framed, under glass. $450 |
| 69. | Manuscript. GENEALOGICAL NARRATIVE AND CHART FOR FOLGERS, COFFINS, MACYS, WORTHS, ETC. NANTUCKET, 1854. Folio sheet, 24 x 18 inches. Genealogical narrative written in three columns above a semicircular chart radiating from the bottom center of the document, all in manuscript. As the ur-Folgers branch out to Colemans, Worths, Husseys, Bunkers, etc. in the chart below, about 3000 words trace the lineage of these major families in the narrative above. At the very bottom of the document are the words, “Approved by Benjamin Franklin Folger, Sept 26, 1854.” This inscription is in the same handwriting as the lengthy genealogical record above. Folger, a brilliant but odd hermit who lived out at ‘Sconset, was the first genealogist of the island, and he rescued its records from oblivion. If this is not his handiwork it was done under his tutelage. Interestingly, Thoreau came to visit him in 1854 and left a detailed record of him. He died in 1859. A tanned strip at bottom of document, chipping at top, with loss of a few words. Framed, under glass. $350 |
| 70. | Manuscript. IMPRESSMENT ORDERS, MIDDLESEX ENGLAND, 1771. Folio sheet folded. 4 pp. manuscript. Two identical copies in different hands of orders issued to the Justices of the Peace at the General Quarter Session of the county of Middlesex. These were issued by the King’s Privy Council, and directed the justices to “cause all straggling seamen who are fit to serve on board His Majesty’s ships to be taken up and sent by proper persons... to the Clerks of the Cheque of his Majesty’s Yards at Deptford, Woolwich, Chatham, Sheerness, Portsmouth, Plymouth or Harwich.” Those doing the impressing would receive 20 shillings per man plus six pence a mile for every mile of transport. Much more detail about the process is revealed in these 4 page documents. Both signed “By the Court. Butler.” One is annotated on the back with what appears to be a list of men picked up. Each $500 |
| 71. | Manuscript. JOURNAL OF SHIP ELCANO. BOSTON-POINT DE GALLE (CEYLON)- CALCUTTA-NEW YORK. 1864-1866. Small folio, about 60 pp. manuscript entries. Two year maiden voyage of this 1228 ton Newburyport ship, built specifically for the East India trade. This journal records weather conditions, vessels sighted, and notable events on board, such as this entry from the Indian Ocean - “About seven bells this morning Mr. George Harding (passenger) breathed his last. He had the consumption and diarrhea...” There are, alas, only very brief port entries, as this one from India - “The country is level as far as you can see... everything looks green like spring.” The account is notable chiefly because the Captain, James Pritchard, was washed overboard and drowned the second day out of port. (Presumably the Mate assumed his duties and was replaced in Ceylon by a man named Cheever.) A note on the front blank dated 1909 relates this melancholy incident and also tells us that the writer was “my brother, Wm. L. Spaulding on his first voyage. He was in his 16th year. The day he was 21 years of age he was lost from the ship Iron Sides reefing fore sail.” Life was hard back then! Young Spaulding also kept some interesting notes in the back of the log relating to back pay, his promotion to third mate, some desertions, and a list of supplies for the Elcano. In all, an interesting document of the East India trade. Clean and legible in marbled wrappers. $500 |
| 72. | Manuscript. LETTER OF NORTON PRYOR, PHILADELPHIA, TO SAMUEL MUSSEY, NEW YORK. SEPTEMBER 1781. 4to. 2 pages manuscript. Pryor reports Revolutionary War news to Mussey, including early word of the Battle of the Chesapeake, the wounding of Anthony Wayne, and an account of the “Ship Congress after having a very severe action with a British sloop of war which he compelled to strike after an action of three hours. the Congress suffered very much having thirty and upward killed and wounded and the British nearly double that number.” Excellent content, but puzzling. If the first Congress was destroyed on Lake Champlain in 1776, and the second torched in 1777, and the third not launched until 1794, what are we to make of this Congress? $200 |
| 73. | Manuscript. MARINER’S INDENTURE, BOSTON, 1773. Half folio printed sheet, accomplished in manuscript. William Barin of Boston is indentured to Thomas Le Messeurin for 5 years and 17 days. His Master promises to teach him the “Art, Trade or Mystery” of being a mariner, while Barin pledges to stay out of Taverns and Ale Houses, and to avoid Cards, Dice and Fornication. Broken at folds but clean and complete. $100 |
| 74. | Manuscript. “MEDICAL AND SURGICAL CASES” SHIP LADY FLORA, 1816. Small 4to. About 100 pp. manuscript entries. This is a commonplace book kept by G. Harris, surgeon aboard the East India Company ship Lady Flora just off Singapore. (the 750 ton Lady Flora was a long-lived ship later engaged in the opium trade.) Harris documents the care of two patients. The first was a comatose boy, six years of age, suffering from fever. The second was a 30 year old woman who was hemorrhaging. Both survived. The two cases, with Harris’ diagnoses and treatments, occupy nine pages of detailed manuscript entries between Jan 3 and Mar. 23, 1816. Harris then lists more than forty books, presumably in his or the ship’s library, and copies extensive quotations from them. These include medical titles such as “Diseases of the East Indies,” “Johnstone on Diseases of Hot Climates,” and “Jenner on Vaccine Inoculation,” as well as Erasmus Darwin’s “Zoonomia...,” Burke’s “Essay on the Sublime,” and “Southey’s Life of Nelson.” An interesting look at Harris’ practical and intellectual life, and noteworthy for a lovely engraved stationer’s seal from I. W. Norie & Co. on the front pastedown. Bound in vellum, VG $650 See Illustration |
| 75. | Manuscript. SHIPPING ARTICLES. BRIG ROYAL CHARLOTTE, WILLIAM TAYLOR, MASTER. NEWPORT TO LISBON AND RETURN, 1765. Printed folio sheet, 13 x 16 inches, accomplished in manuscript. This is from the days before the American shipping acts of the late 18th century, but the form is still the same - obligations of master and crew are spelled out, then each crewman signs below. In this case it was 8 crewmen, three of whom were illiterate. A rare item. OCLC shows only one library holding a copy. They date theirs 1766, but that copy is a blank. This one is filled in with the date 1765. With crewmen’s accounts on verso in ink. Some show-through from old tape repairs, else a clean copy. $300 |