Maritime List 193

Items 76-93

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76. Port of Boston. PILOTAGE. LAWS, RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE PORT OF BOSTON. TO 1896. Closely linked to the fisheries and the yachting scene, the schooner rigged Boston pilot boats became the fastest and most admired such craft in America in the latter part of the 19th century. These rules govern their rates, conduct, personnel and other matters. This copy is annotated and signed by Justus A. Bailey, Pilot Commissioner, and Edmund Manson, Secretary. VG in original red printed wrappers. A relic of great days. $125
77. (Prince, George.) RAMBLES IN CHILE AND LIFE AMONG THE ARAUCANIAN INDIANS IN 1836. BY “WILL THE ROVER.” Thomaston, (Maine) 1851. 88 pp. The author says he was a sailor on the Chilean Brig of War Achilles, and that he wrote this factual account based on his own experiences. Indeed, though it is listed in Wright’s American Fiction, Wright says it is “Based on an actual trip.” - Wright 2. 1964. And stolid old Sabin deems it factual enough for an entry in his “Dictionary of Books Relating to America” - 12800. Prince’s narrative was first serialized in a Thomaston newspaper, then published in its present form as a paperback potboiler which, the author freely admits, contains scenes which stretch the imagination. “If some of these adventures and incidents, were related in a romance, the reader would probably say they were exaggerated, so much more strange is truth than fiction.” Digital copies of this work seem fairly common, but Worldcat shows only the British Library holding a hard copy. Bound in chipped printed wrappers. Front hinge of title page repaired. Blindstamp of AAS on title. A good copy of a scarce adventure novel. $450
78. Print. “HIS EXCELLENCY ELBRIDGE GERRY, L.L.D., GOVERNOUR OF MASSACHUSETTS.” This fine mezzotint was engraved by John Rubens Smith (1775-1849) after original artwork by John Vanderlyn (1775-1852). It was published in Boston on July 4, 1811, as much to celebrate Gerry’s first term as governor as the anniversary of American Independence. Gerry, of course, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the inventor of gerrymandering, the unnatural re-districting technique that bore his name. Ironically, public reaction against it caused him to lose the race for Governor in Massachusetts in 1812. Stauffer, “American Engravers...” 2921. In antique frame under glass. $850
79. Robinson, J. Fletcher. ICE SPORTS. Lon. 1901. b/w plates, folding color litho. vi-335 pp. A scarce publication in the Isthmian Library series. Wonderful period photographs, with a folding color lithograph plan of an iceboat. Fine condition. $450
80. Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. BERMUDA. n.p. (NY) n.d. (ca. 1915). Color and b/w halftone ills. 24 pp. Handsome tourist brochure for the island, back in the day when its swishest hotel, the Belmont, cost $30 per night. Dozens of vintage b/w photographic views, in lush color covers with saccharine text. Hallett p. 174 describes a similar but not identical item. Old vertical fold mark, light wear. $150
81. Rush, Benjamin. AN ACCOUNT OF THE BILIOUS REMITTING YELLOW FEVER AS IT APPEARED IN THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA IN THE YEAR 1793. Phila. 1794. x, 363 pp. Second edition of a classic work in medical literature. “Benjamin Rush was the most eminent figure in Philadelphia medicine in his day. His description of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793 is classical. He did magnificent work in treating the sick during the epidemic and in proposing measures to prevent a recurrence.” - Garrison and Morton 5453. This disease played a major role in military and naval campaigns in southern America and the Caribbean throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, when many more British and American soldiers and sailors died of yellow fever than from combat. This copy is bound in full calf with a red spine label. It bears a faint institutional blindstamp in the upper corner of the title page and is otherwise in excellent condition. Contemporary ownership signature of Benjamin Welch on front blank. $450
82. Schaefer, Rudolph J. J.E. BUTTERSWORTH. 19TH-CENTURY MARINE PAINTER. 1975. b/w and color plates. xxvi, 276 pp. The first and still major work on this important marine artist. Well illustrated, and with a complete list of all signed or attributed works. Almost impossible to find these days, and much in demand. VG-Fine in dj. $450
83. Scott, Sir Walter. THE PIRATE. Edinburgh. 1867. b/w title page engraving (883) - 1056 pp. This is something of a bibliographical curiosity. Apparently, in 1867 A&C Black reprinted the Waverly Novels. Volume Two of this reprint set contained six of the novels, of which “The Pirate” was the last. It is reprinted here in paperback “penny dreadful” form, but with the front matter from the Waverly reprints included. So, the first illustrated title page refers to this as “volume second” in the series of Waverly novels. Following that, however, is the illustrated title page for “The Pirate,” and it is clear that the novel is printed in its entirety here, including even Scott’s end notes. Printed in two columns, with an attractive color cover of the Pirate himself. VG-Fine condition. $150
84. Sonnini, C.S. HISTOIRE NATURELLE GÉNÉRALE ET PARTICULIÈRE, DES CETACEES... Paris. AN XII (1804) b/w engravings 446 pp. “Ouvrage faisant suite à l'Histoire naturelle, générale et particulière, composée par Leclerc de Buffon, et mise dans un nouvel ordre...” First edition of this natural history of whales, with five delicately hand colored copperplate engravings of whales. Allen “Preliminary List” 473. Bound in period diced calf. A beautiful copy. $500
85. Steel, David. STEEL’S NAVAL REMEMBRANCER FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR IN 1793 TO THE END IN 1800: INTENDED AS A COMPLETE SUPPLEMENT TO THE NAVY-LIFTS UP TO THAT PERIOD. Lon. (1801). b/w frontispiece. Small 8vo. 84 pp. With lists of “French, Dutch, Spanish and British navies, lost, taken, since the commencement of the present war...” Lists of privateers. Lists of settlements and colonies. Lists of captures, and lists of British officers killed in action. The frontispiece engraving shows both sides of the medal for officers who distinguished themselves in actions under Howe, Jervis, Duncan and Nelson, 1794-1798. Witt 109. A valuable source for British naval activity during the Napoleonic era, and quite scarce. Worldcat shows only two libraries holding this edition. Bound in later calf with gold spine lettering over original cloth boards.VG. $250
86. Stewart-Brown, R. LIVERPOOL SHIPS IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY INCLUDING THE KING’S SHIPS BUILT THERE WITH NOTES ON THE PRINCIPAL SHIPWRIGHTS. Lon. 1932. b/w plates. xi, 148 pp. Includes “General Notes” with sections on shipyards, privateers, sheathing and timber; “King’s Ships” with sections on guns, flags, costs, manning; “Liverpool Shipwrights,” with sections on 22 firms or individuals. First edition. VG copy of a useful and interesting book, in lightly chipped dj. $125
87. Swinton, Captain and Mrs. (James Carlise, editor). JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE WITH COOLIE EMIGRANTS, FROM CALCUTTA TO TRINIDAD. Lon. n.d. (1859). 16 pp. The Salsette, transporting Coolie emigrants from Calcutta to Trinidad in 1858, was something of a Death Ship, calling to mind infamous slavers of the Middle Passage. Despite the lack of epidemic disease or bad weather, 120 of the 324 Coolies aboard died during the voyage. This, in spite of the humanitarian Captain Swinton’s best efforts. (He was also paid only for living bodies, so money may have played a part.) This is the second edition of a scarce pamphlet - Worldcat shows only five libraries holding copies - published to raise public awareness of the scandalous trade. The pamphlet ends with an impassioned address by Jane Swinton, the Captain’s wife, equating the Coolie system with slavery. VG, bound in later paper wraps. $450
88. Taber, Abraham. NEW BEDFORD AND FAIRHAVEN SIGNAL BOOK. 1855. New Bedford. 1850. Hand colored ills. 94 pp. Hand colored illustrations of house whaling flags, printed on recto only. With alphabetical and numerical indices, and a b/w plate and text illustrating telegraph (flag) signals. This copy bears the pencil ownership inscription of William Hall Allen, a New Bedford whaling captain. Allen has made frequent manuscript additions to this book in pencil. Next to many of the whaleship names Allen has written their fate, such as “Navy,” “Lost,” “Merchant Service,” or “Sold,” making this an additionally valuable period reference. Scarce, Worldcat locating only six libraries holding copies of this edition. Bound in original calf over boards, light wear. $1500
89. Town of Nantucket. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE LONG POND AND MADAKET DITCH... Nantucket. 1882. 24 pp. Madaket Ditch connected Long Pond with Madaket Harbor and provided a handy spot for a weir to catch herring, smelt and eels. In this pamphlet a town committee studies a proposal to clean it out, and provides a very nice history of the ditch and the fishery. Crosby p. 183. In self wraps. Old vertical fold, else VG. $150
90. (Trumbull, Henry) LIFE AND REMARKABLE ADVENTURES OF ISRAEL POTTER, (A NATIVE OF CRANSTON, RHODE ISLAND,) WHO WAS A SOLDIER IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION... Providence. 1824. b/w frontis. 12mo. 108 pp. Potter recounts his part in the Battle of Bunker Hill, and then his capture by the British while serving on an American privateer. He escaped from the prison ship and, “for 30 years he obtained a livelyhood for himself and family, by crying 'Old chairs to mend' through the streets of London.’ - In May last, but the assistance of the American Consul, he succeeded (in his 79th year of age) in obtaining a passage to his native country.” A quaint yarn, it was the basis of Herman Melville’s “Israel Potter.” This is the second printing, same year as, and identical to, the first, except that the frontispiece image has been changed and errors in text have been corrected rather than listed on an errata sheet. Howes T-371. Smith p 85. A lovely old copy bound in original sheep over marbled boards. Pages evenly tanned. $300
91. US Navy. (Bureau of Ordnance and Hydrography). INSTRUCTIONS IN RELATION TO THE PREPARATION OF VESSELS OF WAR FOR BATTLE: TO THE DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND OTHERS WHEN AT QUARTERS: AND TO ORDNANCE AND ORDNANCE STORES. Wash. 1852. b/w engravings some corrected in red ink. xii, (2), 180, iv-xvii pp. Plus 4 pp. “Additions” laid in. In an effort to further standardize ordnance procedures throughout the Navy (see item #68 in this list - the 1840 manuscript ordnance book), Commodore Charles Morris, Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, issued these detailed instructions. They cover all phases of fighting a ship, including gunnery, gunpowder, shot and shells, station bills, table of allowance, etc. There are plates of guns and carriages, and also a section on hydrography, with plates (one folding) of hydrographic instruments. An absolutely immaculate copy, bound in half calf over marbled boards, and looking brand new. $350
92. Vial du Clairbois, Honore Sebastien. ELEMENTS OF NAVAL ARCHITECTURE: BEING A TRANSLATION OF THE THIRD PART OF A WORK ENTITLED TRAITE ELEMENTAIRE DE LA CONSTRUCTION DES VAISSEAUX... Lon. 1846. b/w folding plates. viii, 46 pp. First English edition of a work originally published in French in 1787. Clairbois was a French naval constructor and an important contributor to the marine section of the “Encyclopedie Methodique.” This is an important work, mainly concerned with hydrodynamics, and Clairbois’ method of calculating displacement. This copy with a presentation inscription by the translator, Commander J.N. Strange, to the Royal Artillery Regimental Library. With their handsome bookplate on the front pastedown. Bound in original green cloth with gold cover lettering. Backstrip chipped top and bottom. $300
93. Wales, George C. ETCHINGS AND LITHOGRAPHS OF AMERICAN SHIPS. Bos. 1927. b/w plates. 4to. 129 pp. With a signed etching and a signed lithograph by Wales. Each image includes a descriptive paragraph. Those relating to the lithographed vessels are quite a bit longer. This copy belonged to Edwin Dean Walen, and bears his bookplate. Wales has drawn and signed a special illustration for Walen on the front blank, and it is so superior to Walen’s own bookplate that we can only hope he adopted it as his own. An interesting example of Wales at his best, perhaps fishing for a bookplate design commission. VG $350

List 193 Table of Contents
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