WHALING LOG]. Manuscript "Journal of a Voyage on board of the Whaling Ship Hamilton of Bridgeport, [Conn.], Wm. R. Brown, Master. 1839-40-41." Folio, 320 x 193mm., 145 pages, written in a blank book of wove paper, bound in quarter sheep and marbled paper boards. In very fine condition internally and externally. Bookplate of the late Dr. Joseph E. Fields. A FINELY-ILLUSTRATED NEW ENGLAND WHALING LOG A lengthy, well-illustrated log of a New England whaler, the Hamilton, perhaps by George Hand, whose pencil signature appears on the penultimate page. The journal contains a decorative title with bold border of 14 whale-stamps (verso blank), followed by a manuscript title. The daily Journal, which opens with a large compass rose, consists of two to four entries on each page, with the date clearly noted in the left-hand margin, all penned in a clear, readable hand. The journal is richly ornamented with SOME 97 DRAWINGS OF SAILING VESSELS, ICEBERGS, ISLANDS AND PROFILES OF VARIOUS SPECIES OF WHALES, executed by a very skillful amateur; most of the whale profiles are printed with small, well-carved stamps as usual. At the back of the journal is one fine full-page drawing depicting a whaling scene: the whaling ship, four longboats with standing harpooners striking three sounding whales; another half-page drawing of the same three-masted vessel, from the side, is captioned "Taking in sail at sunset, in the whaling Ground." An extra leaf, inserted in the middle of the journal, consists of a very detailed map of the anchorage and coast of Goose Island and Cape Arid, where a number of whales were taken. The Hamilton was at sea for 20 months, ranging the oceans, primarily in the Pacific, taking 2000 barrels of oil and 300 barrels of sperm oil. A table at the end lists other ships encountered during the voyage, with their home ports. Two pages contain a description "of the Winds, Weather, Currents &c off the South Coast of Australia;" another two-page addition contains a description of "Middle Island," and another directions "For cruising off and in the Bays of New Zealand." The writer has also added an unusual full-page table recording "the time, and number of whales killed by the boats of the Hamilton, " documenting the varying success of each of the Hamilton 's four longboats. At the end are several pages of verse, one entitled "Tho' Lost at Sea." Many whaling logs, including those of the extensive and important Barbara Johnson Collection, have become part of permanent institutional collections in the last decade; consequently, logs have become very rare in the market.
WHALING LOG]. Manuscript "Journal of a Voyage on board of the Whaling Ship Hamilton of Bridgeport, [Conn.], Wm. R. Brown, Master. 1839-40-41." Folio, 320 x 193mm., 145 pages, written in a blank book of wove paper, bound in quarter sheep and marbled paper boards. In very fine condition internally and externally. Bookplate of the late Dr. Joseph E. Fields. A FINELY-ILLUSTRATED NEW ENGLAND WHALING LOG A lengthy, well-illustrated log of a New England whaler, the Hamilton, perhaps by George Hand, whose pencil signature appears on the penultimate page. The journal contains a decorative title with bold border of 14 whale-stamps (verso blank), followed by a manuscript title. The daily Journal, which opens with a large compass rose, consists of two to four entries on each page, with the date clearly noted in the left-hand margin, all penned in a clear, readable hand. The journal is richly ornamented with SOME 97 DRAWINGS OF SAILING VESSELS, ICEBERGS, ISLANDS AND PROFILES OF VARIOUS SPECIES OF WHALES, executed by a very skillful amateur; most of the whale profiles are printed with small, well-carved stamps as usual. At the back of the journal is one fine full-page drawing depicting a whaling scene: the whaling ship, four longboats with standing harpooners striking three sounding whales; another half-page drawing of the same three-masted vessel, from the side, is captioned "Taking in sail at sunset, in the whaling Ground." An extra leaf, inserted in the middle of the journal, consists of a very detailed map of the anchorage and coast of Goose Island and Cape Arid, where a number of whales were taken. The Hamilton was at sea for 20 months, ranging the oceans, primarily in the Pacific, taking 2000 barrels of oil and 300 barrels of sperm oil. A table at the end lists other ships encountered during the voyage, with their home ports. Two pages contain a description "of the Winds, Weather, Currents &c off the South Coast of Australia;" another two-page addition contains a description of "Middle Island," and another directions "For cruising off and in the Bays of New Zealand." The writer has also added an unusual full-page table recording "the time, and number of whales killed by the boats of the Hamilton, " documenting the varying success of each of the Hamilton 's four longboats. At the end are several pages of verse, one entitled "Tho' Lost at Sea." Many whaling logs, including those of the extensive and important Barbara Johnson Collection, have become part of permanent institutional collections in the last decade; consequently, logs have become very rare in the market.
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Create an alert![WHALING LOG]. Manuscript](/dist/images/nopic.gif)
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
