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for SAMUEL W. COMSTOCK : 1833 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT SHIP'S LOG OF A 155 DAY VOYAGE FROM THE PACIFIC COAST OF MEXICO TO NEW YORK CITY

Folio - over 12" - 15" tall. On offer is a fascinating, original 1833 logbook for the Ship McLellan (later purchased in 1846 and refitted as a whaling ship) from Mazatlan on the Pacific coast of Mexico to New York City. The volume is dated March 6, 1833 to August 8th, 1833. The 8 x 13 inch book produced specifically for the trade states: "Published and Sold by E. & G. W. Blunt, 154 Water-street, corner of Maiden-lane, where is constantly for sale, a complete assortment of the most approved Charts, Nautical Books and Instruments. Nautical instruments Repaired. / June, 1827". A lovely woodcut illustration of an American Clipper Ship under full sail graces the cover. While unknown the author, the log has 74 pre-printed pages of charts to be filled in and all 74 pages have been used with a loose leaf tucked in at the end for August 4th through August 8th, thus completing the entire journey from Mazatlan to New York. Typical of a log kept by the First Mate or Captain the log details all the technical data; daily charts contain information on positions, weather, currents, longitude and latitude, wind direction and force and the various sails used. Fairly extensive use is also made of the blank space provided to make longhand notations regarding the passage of the McLellan. The writer also uses this space to note both the daily and whole "distance run". The odd note regarding particular currents off the River Plata or meetings with other vessels and the gossip punctuate the journal. Here are some snippets: On March 6, 1833, The Ship McLellan departs Mazatlan bound for New York. "...with the assistance of the Ship of War Rattlesnake + crew got our anchor without difficulty. The three Marias Isles at meridian were to the northward of us from 15 to 25 miles." Distance run the first day: 100 miles. On April 7, 1833: "...spoke whaling ship Amethist of Nantucket - 70 days out with 300 blls. of sperm oil - reports 80 ships in the neighborhood upon the same business but with indifferent success." On June 20, 1833: "...unusual quantities of whales seen for these 2 days...", and on July 4th the McLellan crosses the equator having been out for 121 days and run 11,262 miles. On Thursday, August 7, 1833, "...at 6 took a pilot, at 10 came to anchor outside the bar - at 8 a.m. wind N.W. weigh anchor and made sail - Friday at 1 p.m. having worked almost up to the narrows was taken in tow by a steam boat and came to anchor at Querantine at 4; Subjected to 48 hours Querantine". This ends the 155 day, 14,038 mile voyage of the McLellan." The covers are intact and are comprised of marbled paperboard. Overall VG. HISOTRICAL NOTES: one online source provides: Samuel W. Comstock started in the trading business in 1833, on the Ship McLellan, with a cargo shipped by G. G . & S. Howland (later Howland & Aspinwall) consigned to S.W. Comstock, supercargo on board, "for Valparaiso and a market." The value of the cargo was $121,435.38 and it comprised: "Satin, crepe and Florentine shawls, ribbons of all descriptions, satins for dresses, foulard silks, horseskin gloves, open worked white silk hose, ladies' and men's white kid cloves, handkerchiefs, Irish linens, Russia sheetings, printed Jaconets and muslins, fancy prints, striped seersucker ginghams, burlaps, letter paper, scissors, guns, gunpowder, assorted marbles, Richmond flour, Havana wax, Russia wax, fancy and yellow soap, English iron, steel, Spanish lead, old Holland gin, wine, cordials, Havana tobacco, Kentucky tobacco, manufactured tobacco, snuff, pepper, pimento, sperm candles, cream of tartar, pilot bread, white lead, paint, turpentine, rope yarns, crockery, German tumblers, mahogany veneers, mahogany plank, rosewood, cane seat chairs, Malaga raisins.". Manuscript. Book Condition: Good+

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