Beschreibung:

Title: Manuscript journal and log book of the ship Geo. Howland out of New Bedford, commanded by Aaron C. Cushman, with watercolor illustrations Author: Cushman, Aaron C. Place: At sea and in port Publisher: Date: 1842-1845 Description: Approximately 178 leaves plus blanks at end. With Ms. calligraphic title-page in color, “A Journal of Ship Geo. Howland of New Bedford, A.C. Cushman. 1842, 43, 44”; at the top of the first page of entries, also in color, “S. Geo. Howland from New Bedford Towards the Pacific Ocean, A.C. Cushman Comdr.” With daily or nearly daily entries recording the weather, sailing conditions, route, longitude and latitude, plus whaling activities such as sighting whales, lowering boats, striking the whales, pulling them alongside the ship, cutting them up and boiling them down to whale oil. Also such activities as stowing the barrels of oil, mending sails, painting the boat, and when ashore or at a harbor gathering or purchasing supplies, water, timber, etc. There are running headings throughout describing the general course. The journal is greatly enhanced by some 100 watercolor drawings, ranging from simple depictions of whale tails to indicate sighting, but not capturing whales, to three full-page watercolors of the ship and whaling activities. 38.3x25.5 cm. (15x10”), original quarter vellum & boards, with remains of a watercolor of the ship mounted on the front cover. Spectacular whaling journal recording three and a half years at sea seeking whales, with an exceptional array of watercolors of whales, ships and boats engaged in the great maritime exercise of the 19th century. The Geo. Howland set out from New Bedford on May 20th, 1842, and did not return until the penultimate day of November, 1845. Most of the time she was cruising up and down the west coast of South America, occasionally stopping at various ports for supplies, recruiting replacements for the crew, and social diversions. Mostly it was searching for whales, sighting the whales, lowering the boats, striking the whales, and bringing them alongside for rendering. In the 19th century whale oil had a variety of uses, from lubricants and soap to lamp fuel and more. Many of the whales described as struck and caught in the present journal were sperm whales, prized because they produced oil that was considered to be superior to that of other whales, and which sold for more. The water colors in the journal include three marvelous full-page paintings, of two whales being attacked by two whale boats, with the ship in the background; of two whales surrounded by four whale boats, with two large ships in the background; and a large ship, likely the Geo. Howland herself, with a mountainous shore at the right. In addition, there are some 13 smaller views, about a quarter page each, of ships and whales, and some with whale boats – one of these depicts a capsized whaleboat, with a coffin floating in the sea, and the accompanying text relates how one Samuel Watson was drowned when the boat was overturned. Thirty-eight are of whale tails (some with more than one), indicating whales sighted but not struck; 22 are of one or more whole whales, indicating whales caught; 8 are of whales with ships or boats; 15 are of ships, depicting fellow whalers or merchantmen that they encountered and “spoke” to (in the case of whalers, usually the length of time spent on their voyage and the number of barrels of oil thus far procured). The watercolors are superbly executed, and represent the epitome of American folk art of the 19th century, although towards the end of the journal they become fewer in number and less painstakingly drawn. A few of the daily entries follow: Friday, May 20th, 1842 – At 4½ am. Left home with a heavy heart and many tears, and I am not sensible that I ever knew what it was to leave home before… At 8½ am we weighed our anchor and stood to Sea, with fresh gales and heavy rains from E.N.E…. Friday, Oct. 21, 1842 - …Saw many fin