LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2006 October Grand Format Autographs #629  / 

25055

New Bedford Whaling Lot With Jackson, Tyler Sigs

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:1,000.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
New Bedford Whaling Lot With Jackson, Tyler Sigs
<B>New Bedford Whaling Group with Andrew Jackson, John Tyler Signatures and Early Hawaii Associations.</B></I> These items were found together and each is in some way related to the 19th century heyday of American whaling activity. Included are:<BR><BR>Partly printed manuscript vellum Document Signed, "<I>Andrew Jackson</B></I>" as President and "<I>John Forsyth</B></I>" as Secretary of State, one page with docketing, 10.5" x 14.25", Washington D.C., June 11, 1836. Ship's papers for the whaling bark <I>Joseph Maxwell</B></I> of Fairhaven, New Bedford District, Massachusetts. Scalloped top edge as made, affixed with an embossed paper presidential seal, illustrated with two maritime vignettes. Faded inscriptions, loss to the seal and soiling. The Jackson signature, however, remains bold and prominent. Better than good condition.<BR><BR>Partially printed Document Signed, "<I>J. Tyler</B></I>" as President and "<I>Daniel Webster</B></I>" as Secretary of State, one page, 19" x 16.5", Washington, D.C., October 30, 1841. Ship's papers for the whaling bark <I>Governor French</B></I> of New Bedford. Four panels give the ship's particulars in English, French, Dutch and Spanish. She was destined for the South Atlantic with "Provisions, Stores, and Utensils for a whaling voyage". Affixed with an embossed presidential seal. Splits along folds, light stains, and overall toning. Bold Tyler and Webster signatures in close proximity to one another. Good condition.<BR><BR>Oval Daguerreotype of a young man, 2" x 2.25", in brass frame with suspension loop. Although unidentified, this image came with the papers and is likely associated with one of the above ships. Moderate haloing and fading.<BR><BR>Autograph Letter Signed, "<I>C H Smith</B></I>", three pages, 7.5" x 10", "<I>off Honolulu</B></I>", April 13, 1863, to William T. Smith of New Bedford. Smith writes as the second officer of the bark <I>Martha.</B></I> A whaler having this name was captured by the C.S.S. Shenandoah in the northern Pacific on June 28, 1865. Same ship? The letter here tells of arson on board and its aftermath. It reads partially as follows: "<I>...we are at the sandwitch Islands longer than I expected...Captain came aboard at a little before dark as he always does and about 7 o'clock in the evening he was walking deck and thought he smells smoke looked around and found the ship to be on fire...by his very cool exertions we managed to put it out. it was set in between decks in the fore hold in a Barrell half full of Rosin with Tarred roped and other things on top...the trouble was we were 15 or 18 miles leward off shore...5 minutes more and we could not have saved the ship...after the fire was out and every thing right in that Respect he (the captain) held a court Martial and found out it was one of them d--m contraband niggers we brought out from home (that set the fire) he put him in Irons hands & feet and 2 others on suspition but let one out after proving him inocent...I hope all the niggers both this side of Cape Horn and the other side will go right strate to H--l or some other place of amusement...</B></I>". Folds from mailing, else very fine condition.<BR><BR>Autograph Letter Signed, "<I>Charles Hood, Jr.</B></I>", 2 pages, 8" x 12.5", "<I>Honolulu On Board the Barque Martha</B></I>", December 3, 1863, to William T. Smith, New Bedford. Hood, 3rd officer of the <I>Martha</B></I> writes in part: "<I>...here we are just from the Arctic Ocean one season out with something over 1100 barrels of whale oil...was the last ship which passed through Bhering Strates this season and if there is half a chance to get a barrel of oil we will swet it out a month longer....</B></I>". Small splits along lower fold, else fine condition.<BR><BR>Partly Printed Document Signed, "<I>A C White</B></I>", one page, 5" x 7.75", Providence, Rhode Island, July 31, 1876, to William Smith, New Bedford. A Western Union telegram reading, "<I>David will not need you. Need not come tomorrow. Have written</B></I>". Fine condition.<BR><BR>Three Sheets Autographed by Kingdom of Hawaii Officials, each 4.75" x 7.75", ca. 1870s. Included are signatures for John O. Dominis (Governor of Oahu and Prince Consort to Queen Lili'uokalani), Elisha H. Allen (Chief Justice of the Hawaiian Supreme Court) and John M. Kapena (Governor of Maui). The verso of one sheet is inscribed, "<I>Arthur Hathaway Swift, New Bedford, Mass. Mar., 11th, 1873</B></I>". Whether this indicates ownership or if it is a fourth autograph is an open question. A few stains, else very fine condition.
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