Items 76-84
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76. Simpson, George. NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD, DURING THE YEARS 1841 AND 1842. Lon. 1847. b/w frontis., fldg. map. 2 vol. xi, 438; vii, 469 pp. Simpson was governor of the Hudson’s Bay company, and this voyage took him through Canada via Halifax, Montreal, the Red River Settlement, Edmonton and Vancouver. He also spent time in Alaska, Siberia, Hawaii and California, all of which are written about here. Lada Mocarski holds this narrative in esteem, calling his remarks about Alaska “particularly valuable.” Cowan calls it, “A model record of travels by an exceedingly able man and keen observer.” He dedicated about 150 pages to his California travels and a chapter to Hawaii. With an interesting inscription “Cyril Graham. 1869. When I went first to the great Red River of the north.” See Lada Mocarski 129. Forbes, 1670. Cowan p. 588. Hill 1572. Howes S-495 (aa). First edition of an important voyage. 2 vols in original blindstamped cloth. Backstrips and edges sunned, but internally a very nice untrimmed copy. $850 |
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77. (Somers Mutiny). CASE OF THE SOMERS' MUTINY. DEFENSE OF ALEXANDER SLIDELL MACKENZIE, COMMANDER OF THE U.S. BRIG SOMERS, BEFORE THE COURT MARTIAL HELD AT THE NAVY YARD, BROOKLYN. NY. 1843. 30, ii pp. A contemporary report of the Court Martial of Commander Mackenzie for hanging three sailors of the crew of the U.S. Brig Somers for mutiny, including Midshipman Philip Spencer, son of the Secretary of War. Despite the public outcry over the hangings, the Court of Inquiry found Mackenzie’s actions in the presence of mutiny warranted and necessary. Mackenzie immediately requested a Court Martial with the goal of eliminating the possibility of later exposure to civil proceedings. The two-page appendix is a translation of the Greek notes found in Midshipman Spencer’s razor case that identified the mutineers. Lacking the original printed wrapper, but with a piece clipped from the wrapper inscribed and signed by Mackenzie to author H. T. Tuckerman pasted to the first text page. $350 |
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78. (Somers Mutiny). PROCEEDINGS OF THE COURT OF INQUIRY APPOINTED TO INQUIRE INTO THE INTENDED MUTINY ON BOARD THE UNITED STATES BRIG OF WAR SOMERS, ON THE HIGH SEAS; HELD ON BOARD THE UNITED STATES SHIP NORTH CAROLINA LYING AT THE NAVY YARD, NEW-YORK... NY. 1843. b/w ills. 48 pp. “With a full account of the execution of Spencer, Cromwell and Small.” Herman Melville’s cousin was an officer on the Somers, and this incident was the basis for Melville’s “Billy Budd.” The pamphlet features wood engravings of the Somers and a portrait of her captain, Alexander Slidell Mackenzie. It is frequently found in the more common 44 page iteration. This copy has four extra pages, featuring the eighteenth and nineteenth days of the trial, and Mackenzie’s damning testimony. Quite scarce thus. Harbeck, p. 231. Smith II, 3746. Antique style quarter calf binding, with original illustrated wrappers bound in. $650 |
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79. (Somers Mutiny. James Fenimore Cooper.) THE CRUISE OF THE SOMERS: ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE DESPOTISM OF THE QUARTER DECK; AND OF THE UNMANLY CONDUCT OF COMMANDER MACKENZIE. NY. 1844. b/w ills. iv-102 (6 adverts) pp. Although this anonymous work is not listed in the BAL, Worldcat and other sources agree that it was written by James Fenimore Cooper, who had an ancient grudge against Mackenzie. In this work Cooper attacks Mackenzie’s decision to summarily hang the mutineers, claiming that the men had rights as American citizens to a trial by jury. The mutiny and its aftermath raised quite a fuss at the time, not least because the leader of the mutineers was the son of the Secretary of War. It remains one of the most controversial and embarrassing incidents of our naval history. Bound in original printed wrappers with the remains of an old hardcover binding adhering to the spine. The wrappers are tanned, text is clean. Rare in the trade. $750 |
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80. Sullivan, Sir Edward, et al. YACHTING. Lon. 1894. Color and b/w plates. 2 vol. xvii, 439; xvi, 456 pp. “Articles, many by well known yachtsmen, which give a comprehensive picture of yachting in Great Britain in the 1890s, with a brief coverage of the rest of the English speaking world.” - Toy 71. Including articles by Lewis Herreshoff on American yachting, and an article on the America’s Cup races of 1893. Portraits and lines of yachts, color plates of flags and pennants. First editions, VG, very nicely bound in half calf over marbled boards. Raised bands and gilt lettering and spine decoration. 2 vols. $200 |
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81. Vancouver, George. VOYAGE DE DÉCOUVERTES, À L'OCÉAN PACIFIQUE DU NORD, ET AUTOUR DU MONDE, EXÉCUTÉ PENDANT LES ANNÉES 1790. 1795. Paris. (1801-2). b/w plates, maps. Five 8vo volumes of text plus 8vo atlas volume. Second French edition, and the first in this format, of Vancouver’s important voyage to the northwest coast. The views include the Mission of San Carlos, and the Presidio of Monterey, probably the first published views of California. The important Map of New Albion shows the California coast from San Diego to San Francisco. The atlas volume is complete with 17 views, 1 small map and 8 folding maps. Howes V-23. Vancouver had served on Cook’s second and third voyages, and was sent to this area to reclaim British territorial rights. Bound in original paper wrappers, uncut, with one paper spine label lacking. Two of the text volumes reinforced with brown paper. Some chipping and staining, but unusual in original wrappers, and very good condition inside. $2000 |
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82. White, Thomas. NAVAL RESEARCHES; OR A CANDID INQUIRY IN THE CONDUCT OF ADMIRALS BYRON, GRAVES, HOOD AND RODNEY IN THE ACTIONS OFF GRENADA, CHESAPEAK, ST. CHRISTOPHER’S... Lon. 1830 Folding engraved plates with hand coloring. 136 pp. “Being a refutation of the plans and statements of Mr. Clerk, Rear Admiral Ekins, and others...” White served as a young gentleman with Hood, “and was in seven actions with that distinguished officer between the 29th April, 1781, and the 12th April, 1782, on which day the ship he served in was actually engaged with, and captured, the Ville de Paris of 112 guns, bearing the flag of the Count de Grasse.” This work is a defense, based on White’s own experience, as well as naval documents, of the conduct of Graves and others in these decisive sea-battles of the American Revolution. The work is illustrated with ten hand colored folding battle plans. Good stuff, and quite scarce. Sabin 103459. Smith I, 1558. Bound in original cloth with remains of paper label. Wear to backstrip. Light tide mark on lower half of some of the plates. Still a very presentable copy of a scarce book in original boards. $1250 |
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83. Williams, Mrs. H. Dwight. A YEAR IN CHINA; AND A NARRATIVE OF CAPTURE AND IMPRISONMENT, WHEN HOMEWARD BOUND, ON BOARD THE REBEL PIRATE FLORIDA. NY. 1864. xvi, 362 pp. Mrs. Williams travelled to China via Africa and Mauritius (where she spoke the whaler Young Pheonix). After well-described travels through Hong Kong, Macao, Whampoa, and Canton her ship was captured and burned by the Confederate raider Florida. Interesting depictions of China trade and of rebel captain Maffit, as well as local scenery and customs. A scarce book, not in Smith or Broadfoot. VG in original decorated covers, showing only light wear. $200 |
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84. Wilson, William. A MISSIONARY VOYAGE TO THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC OCEAN, PERFORMED IN THE YEARS 1796, 1797, 1798, IN THE SHIP DUFF, COMMANDED BY CAPTAIN JAMES WILSON. Lon. 1799. b/w plates, maps. 4to. c, 410, 12 (subscribers list) pp. The Duff was the first missionary vessel to sail into the unknown Pacific, and the missionaries made many important discoveries ancillary to their religious purposes. “The voyage of the Duff was undertaken for the purpose of establishing a mission in Tahiti, and a settlement of twenty-five persons was formed... They met with continual difficulties because of the civil wars, and were finally forced to flee to Australia... The voyagers made many important discoveries of Islands... The long ‘preliminary discourse’ was anonymously written by Samuel Greatheed, using the then-unpublished narrative of James Morrison, one of the pardoned Bounty mutineers.” This is the first, large paper, Gosnell edition. It features seven maps and six engraved plates. See Hill, 1894, 1895, and Ferguson 301,302 for the two states of this work. Bound in worn contemporary calf, rebacked, with original spine label laid down. Text and plates are clean and fresh $1250 |
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