Manuscripts & Ephemera
Our manuscripts include logbooks & journals, letters including naval, whaling and California Gold Rush. A variety of ephemera offered including broadsides and other printed associated material.
A0343 GOLD RUSH PERIOD LETTER WITH VIVID ACCOUNT OF THE KILLING OF JOAQUIN MURRIETA.
“The story runs that the company raised for the purpose of ferreting out these desperadoes encountered them near the Mariposa, and after a running fight at the length took several prisoners, and killed both Joaquin and another deep-eyed villain called three fingered Jack.”
This rare first hand account of Murrieta is part of a letter written by Joseph G. Eastland to Edward D. Hicks on Donahue's Union Iron and Brass Foundry letter sheet. Eastland came to California with his father in 1849 and founded the town of Oro. In 1851 he entered the Union Foundry under Donahue.
Eastland records that Murrieta's head was cut off and preserved in spirits to obtain the reward.
$3500
A0350 IMPORTANT MANUSCRIPT JOURNAL OF DR. CALVIN CARTER ABOARD THE USRC RELIANCE AND LATER IN FORT WRANGELL ALASKA. 1867-1868
Dr. Calvin Carter was appointed by the US Treasury Dept. to report on board the newly built US Revenue Cutter RELIANCE as medical officer on a voyage from Baltimore to San Francisco.
The journal reveals little about his history except he writes on August 18 1867 that its his 30th birthday making his birth year1837. He also make references that he served in the Civil War.
Carter writes in lengthy literary style entries recording many details from his observations at sea and in ports. He records lengthy descriptions of nature: the marine life, avian creatures, and his celestial observations with occasionally lines of poetry.
Carter makes mention of the poor slaves who were huddled together aboard vessels during the so-called “Middle Passage” as well as a crew member; “a Darkie” called “Pins”. Little did Carter or anyone else aboard know that their officer, 2nd Lieut M. A Healey (Michael A Healy) would become the first African-American commander of any US Naval vessel. Healy became famous as the commander of the USRC BEAR. Carter must have been close to Healy as he was asked to keep his logbook.
The voyage around Cape Horn was generally incident free save the loss of the cabin boy, William H. Howard who was washed overboard. The Captain’s gig was lowered with Healy and 4 others, but there was no sign of him.
They returned as they went & after being hoisted up & the boat secured we filled away on the
Port Tack, leaving the poor boy in his vast watery grave till the day when the sea shall give up
her dead.
Carter arrives in San Francisco where he leaves the RELIANCE. He records detailed observations of the city especially the Chinese inhabitants. He visits the US Mint and the famous Cliff House where he makes notes about the California Sea Lions.
“Californians set great store to them as pets, and to injure or kill them is punishable with fine.”
In March 1868 Carter is appointed as Acting Assistant Surgeon and ordered to Ft. Steilacoom Washington Territory then to Ft. Wrangle, Alaska. He takes passage on the SS CALIFORNIA for Victoria then to Fort Steilacoom. On the passage he observes Indians by their wigwams. The women cooking while the men lay around. Children running on the beach and dogs waiting to snatch a morsel of food from the fire.
Carter proceeds to Fort Wrangell, Alaska, which had just been acquired from Russia. Carter’s orders to Ft Wrangell was part of the American establishment of the new territory.
Carter arrives on May 3rd where they land supplies, set up tents and post buildings in preparations for a proper fort. A store house was built and temporary quarters, but no hospital yet, Carter writes. The Hudson Bay Company steamer Otter arrives towing the bark Oakland with lumber for the fort. They celebrate the 4th of July with officers from other vessels and the new telegraph station. Work continues with the help of Indians.
Carter ends his journal writing of a sense of gloom feeling they have been totally forgotten.
$1850
A0301 THE ANDREW INDERWICK NAVAL ARCHIVE 1807 - 1820
This archive consists of 13 letters written by Andrew Inderwick, Royal Navy officer who served aboard several warships during the Napoleonic and War of 1812. He details accounts of the growing conflict between Britain and the Americans. Includes details of clashes with the America.
One fascinating account describes a strange creature found dead on a beach 35 feet in length and having hoofs like a horse. Inderwick records the account from the captain of the brig Slade that was under convoy of HMS Crocodile. A complete summery of each letter is available upon request.
$2750
A0272 ADMIRALTY ORDER BOOK OF HMS PELICAN 1806-1807
"....a state of the case of Wm. Faucett an American, on board His Majesty's sloop under your command: & if he has been impressed, when, where, by whom & from what vessel: or if he has been taken in any craft belonging to the enemy...
A significant manuscript with entries that prompted Britain and America to go to war in the War of 1812. This order book contains copies of orders received from the Admiralty to Captain William Ward of HMS Pelican. Among them are a few orders referring to Americans, including the one sighted. There is also entries regarding punishments and French prisoners.
The Pelican was captured from the French in the West Indies and Ward was put in command. Later she was engaged in the capture of Copenhagen and the war with Russia.
Consists of 28 pages with dates from June 1806 - Nov. 1807. Most of the book just has blank pages. Original pigskin covers.
$875
A0271 1808 EMBARGO ACT DOCUMENT
"....when our port are blockaded in time of peace, when our vessels are fired at & plundered, our citizens impressed into foreign service and even murdered within our own waters & upon our own shore."
$650
This significant document displays the outrage among the people in the United States which led to the War of 1812 and also accusing a party of their own countrymen of petitioning the President of the United States to repeal of the Embargo Act, but in reality of kindling sedition and rebellion.
The seditionists marched the militia to intimidate members of the Windham Ct meetinghouse to sign their petition. In effect to overthrow the government. Dated Brooklyn [Ct] May 12 1808
A0250 CHARLES STEWART ALS TO SENATOR JOHN R. THOMPSON WITH PHOTO OF STEWART.
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Charles Stewart 1778 - 1869 Naval officer who commanded the frigate CONSTITUTION DURING THE War of 1812 when he captured the British frigates Cyane & Levant. At the time of this letter, he was in command of the Philadelphia Navy Yard.
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This letter dated September 14 1858, Stewart is responding to a complaint regarding workmen at the navy yard who have been dismissed. At the time the yard was building a number of new warships.
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Also included is a turn of the 19th century photo of Stewart
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$495
A0335: FINE CLIPPERSHIP CARD FOR SHIP PURITAN
A very fine large sailing card for the Boston ship PURITAN, captain Allen Knowles for the Glidden & Williams Line.
Probably dates 1866 for her maiden voyage to San Francisco.
Watson & Clark Printers.
This card is in extremely fine condition and measures 17 x 10.7 cm.
$1250
A0323 EARLY CLIPPERSHIP CARD FOR SILVER STAR 1856
A fine early sailing card for the short lived ship SILVER STAR, Captain Wade for the Sutton & Co's Dispatch Line. This advertisement was for her maiden voyage in 1856. She was built at Medford MA that year for the San Francisco route. She was wrecked 1860 on Jarvis Island in the Pacific.
These early sailing cards were smaller than the later cards from the 1860s and 70s. This one measures 5 1/4 x 3 inches and is in fine condition.
$650
A0218 HAWAIIAN NEWSPAPER THE FRIEND 1856 & 1857
The Friend published by Rev. Damon, began as a monthly newspaper for seamen in 1845, which included news of Hawaii and other Pacific Islands. Though a temperance paper, it included extensive news of the whaling industry and naval activity. Also ship arrivals and departures and a listing of marriages and deaths. Offered here are two years of 24 issues: 1856 and 57. They have been professionally preserved and mounted in a fine clamshell box. The issues are basically loose and have a mixture of conditions as seen. The December 1856 issue is missing the last leaf.
$875
A0082. BROADSIDE: FORT LEE BULL'S FERRY
Very rare 1830's broadside advertising the Bull's Ferry of the Fort Lee and New-York Steamboat Company. Steamboat John Jay, Captain Benson.
by J. Post, Printer, 101 John Street, near Pearl, New York. 12.75 x 7.75 in.
Professionally restored in upper righthand corner.
$325
A0099. CLIPPER SHIP FLYING CLOUD LETTER
This letter, dated Jan 1855 by Grinnell, Minturn & Co. to N. J. Rotch of New Bedford for shipping manila cordage, evidently to San Francisco as the Flying Cloud sailed for S.F. on the next voyage.
The Flying Cloud was the most famous and fastest sailing ship.