Naval - Military - Pre-20th Century | Archive | Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints

Journal of a Voyage to the South-Seas [One of the Anson’s Voyage Cornerstone Books} – Pascoe Thomas

This is a great example of the Israel Facsimile Voyages published in Amsterdam in 1971. The original account from which this faithful copy was made was published by Birt, Newbery et al London in 1745.

Octavo, Following a Preface and a very lengthy list of subscribers, 347 pages plus various very useful appendices. Fine condition.

Pascoe Thomas described himself a “teacher of the Mathematicks on board the Centurion”.

The Title Page contain a nice precis of the volume … “A True and Impartial Journal of a Voyage to the South-Seas, and Round the Globe, in His Majesty’s Ship the Centurion, Under the Command of Commodore George Anson. WHERINH … All the material Incidents during the said Voyage, from its Commencement in 1770 to the Conclusion in 1744, are fully and faithfully related, having been committed to Paper at the Time they happen’d. Together with some historical Accounts of Chili, Peru, Mexico, and the Empire of China; exact Descriptions of such Places of Note as were touch’d at; and Variety of occasional Remarks. To which is added … A large and general Table of Longitudes and Latitudes, ascertain’d from accurate Observations, or (where these are wanting) from the best printed Books and Manuscripts taken from the Spaniards in this Expedition: Also the Variations of the Compass throughout the Voyage, and the Soundings and depths of water along the different Coasts: And lastly, several curious Observations on a Comet seen in the South-Seas on the Coast of Mexico.

So there we have it … except we also have an appendix which tabulates the massive amounts of gold Anson accumulated from his exploits. This is the only account of the voyage to contain that detail.

Pascoe Thomas .. completes the Anson story

$80.00

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Original manuscript Accounts Book 1791/92 – Webster’s Ropery Sunderland, County Durham, England

Original folio accounts book for the two-year ending 31st December 1792 most likely of or the predecessor to one of England’s leading maritime rope makers, Webster of Deptford, Sunderland County Durham. Original quarter reverse calf with marbled paper covered boards. 62 pages of fine handwriting … appears all the same hand.

Titled at the head of page the first page “An Inventory of Goods etc at the Ropery belonging Messrs William Marshall and John Webster together with an account of the Debts due to & from them this first Day of January One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety One”

The first record of rope making on Wearside (the river Weir runs through Sunderland) was in 1636. The rope was likely made from Baltic hemp. Before 1800 ropes were hand-made on ropewalks a practice that continued for another 100 years. Ropewalks had to be wide enough for four men to spin abreast of each other and long enough to make a standard 120 fathom marine rope. Up to 20 people may be employed on just one rope.

Webster’s plant at Deptford was the first on Wearside driven by steam. It is believed to be the world’s first factory producing machine-made rope. Robert Fothergill a Sunderland schoolmaster had patented a machine to spin hemp the year after our accounts book (1793). It could be that this careful record was produced as part of an exercise to obtain finance for the mechanisation … although the low wages recorded suggest that that mechanisation may well have been underway. We do know that Fothergill died shortly afterwards and Grimshaw a local clockmaker took up the rights in partnership with our Webster and two others. Although its not clear whether the Webster involved was Rowland a distinguished magistrate or John as noted here.

One of the partners in the business was the distinguished Rowland Burdon who later gave up his Parliamentary position on principle although many though that it was because Webster’s Ropery had gained very lucrative contracts with the Royal Navy and he was avoiding any backlash financially … for sure Webster’s were there at Trafalgar!

The records mention many of the vessels of the day that would have been working out of the North-east along with their captains … e.g. Captain McQuarrie of the Fanny; Johnstone of the Nancy William; Robinson of the Broughton Tower; Cleminson of the Argyll; Kennel of the Endeavour (a new one); Dixon of the Sarah; Holm of the Hollow Oak; Neal of the Betsy.

Neat recording of debts and payments with particulars of sales noted with full description for every transaction with monthly totals compared often against some measure of the physical amount sold (early KPI’s). Stock holdings, wages per wage period all set out very carefully. For an industrial historian there seems sufficient information to paint a pretty full picture of the extent of activities. We have gleamed that the Ropery Buildings are in the books at GBP 220, stockholdings were GBP205 and annual sales GBP484 with total wages of only GBP72. Looks nicely profitable.

Interestingly, the Ropery building still exists and has been restored … it is a magnificent building and has been re-established as Webster’s Ropery … but as a beautiful wedding venue … check it out we have shown an image here.

Accounting Records from 1792 …. unique Maritime interest …

$290.00

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Capture of the Mahonesa – Original Hand Coloured Aquatint – Whitcombe 1816

An original hand coloured aquatint by Sutherland after a painting by Thomas Whitcombe (1763-1824) a leading British maritime artist. Published at 48 The Strand, London, 1st November 1816 for Jenkins’s “The Naval Achievements of Great Britain”; surely the greatest ever naval illustrated work.

Printed on thick Whatman paper measuring 30 cm by 21.5 cm with wide borders. Some ghosting from a previous mount as can be seen from the image. Reflected in the price … a desirable collectable naval item.

The action took place on 13th October 1796 off the coast of Spain near Cartgeria. The 22 gun frigate HMS Tepsichore, under Captain Richard Bowen had been shadowing the Spanish fleet. On his return to Lisbon he encountered the Mahonesa under Captain Ayalde. The Spanish offered “battle” and Bowen accepted and won the Mahonesa with little loss on his side. He took his prize to Lisbon but unfortunately had caused so much damage to the ship that it was considered worthless as a prize. This was the first encounter of the Anglo-Spanish War which was to last a further eight years.

Price $190.00 unframed … ask for framing options if you wish.

Thomas Whitcombe exhibited at the Royal Academy (56 times), the British Institution and the Royal Society of British Artists. Many of his paintings of naval engagements are in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich

$190.00

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The Proud Admiral – 19th Century Oil on Board

A good sized oil painting 60cm by 47cm for the artwork.

A traditional 19th Century Naval pose of an Admiral, likely French, resting on his eye glass looking rather vaguely out at sea. Wearing his full naval regalia.

Painted on board, artist unknown. The oils showing a lot of craquelure. Mounted in a simple gilt frame.

Admiral contemplating his achievemenets!

$590.00

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The Battle of Lake Champlain (Plattsburgh), and The Battle of Fort McHenry (Baltimore) – The Boston Messenger – 7th October 1814

An original four page broadsheet … the Boston Messenger published on the 7th October 1812 at the culmination of the War of 1812 between The USA and Britain and its allies.

Over 150 column inches (half the paper) devoted to reports, commentary and tributes, from both sides, regarding these important battles.

The Battle of Lake Champlain (Also known as the Battle of Plattsburgh) ended the invasion of the northern states of the USA during the War of 1812. The British army under General Prevost and the Royal Navy under Downie converged on the lakeside town of Plattsburgh which was defended by New York and Vermont militia and detachments of regular troops under General Macomb and ships under Macdonough. The British attacked after dawn on the 11th September 1814 but were defeated after a hard fight in which Downie was killed. Prevost retreated to Canada.

The Battle of Fort McHenry (Also known as the Battle of Baltimore, Maryland) inspired Francis Scott Key to write the “Star Spangled Banner” as he was watching the battle from a British ship! This battle the turning point when US forces warded off a British invasion of the sea port of Baltimore. The British had landed 5,000 troops who first found resistance at the Battle of North Point, some five miles from the city. General Sticker commanding a group of Maryland militia blunted the British attack killing General Ross in command. They were halted. Meanwhile at Fort McHenry 1,000 American soldiers awaited the British bombardment. They had protected the harbour by sinking a line of merchant ships. The attack began on 13th September 1814 using mortars and rockets. The pounding was relentless although inaccurate and little damage was sustained. British Admiral Cochrane decided on a commando style assault in an attempt to distract the American troops. However, it failed and from there the British gave up any hope of success and retreated on 14th September 1814.

Whilst all this was happening peace negotiations were underway in Europe, also noted in this edition. A Treaty was soon signed to end the war on the basis that prior territories were retained.

Significant Reports the War of 1812

$90.00

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Horatio Lord Nelson – Brain Lavery

The British Library and the National Maritime Museum combine to produce this fine book on the great man. Published in 2003 a very good copy in a complete dust jacket.

Illustrations not found elsewhere in the Nelson library.

The flash line is just our scanner with the Brodart dust jacket protector

Nelson done well

$20.00

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Naval – Military – Pre-20th Century

Journal of a Voyage to the South-Seas [One of the Anson’s Voyage Cornerstone Books} – Pascoe Thomas

Original manuscript Accounts Book 1791/92 – Webster’s Ropery Sunderland, County Durham, England

Capture of the Mahonesa – Original Hand Coloured Aquatint – Whitcombe 1816

The Proud Admiral – 19th Century Oil on Board

The Battle of Lake Champlain (Plattsburgh), and The Battle of Fort McHenry (Baltimore) – The Boston Messenger – 7th October 1814

Horatio Lord Nelson – Brain Lavery

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