On offer is an original circa 1830s manuscript relic of early 19th Century travel being a travel diary handwritten by an unknown Japanese traveler to Hachijo-Island [the southernmost of the Izu Seven Islands], Izu Oshima, The Seven Island Chain and area. Off the coast of south eastern Japan the islands are uniquely situated where the Pacific Ocean meets the Philippine Sea. Hand stitched paper covers, title states "complete," save for worm damage, general light soiling the 6½ x 9¼ inch 100+ page book is overall G+. ; Manuscript; 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall; KEYWORDS: HISTORY OF, J... View More...
On offer is a super, original Civil War era ship's log book of the Schooner Napoleon handwritten by an unknown author, likely the First Mate given the statistical details provided and all manner of important details to the ship's record: weather conditions, loading and unloading of all manner of cargo including cattle and even contact by gunboats seeking individuals who might be on board. Dated February 5, 1864 the journal runs well into 1865. We learn that the ship Master's were Edward Soher, who was then replaced by E. Nichols. The schooner went up and down the East Coast from New Haven Conn... View More...
On offer is a super, original late 19th Century manuscript technical journal, ledger and log book relating to the manufacture and design of Ferry Boats, a critical maritime business and industry, and a comprehensive record of ships built from the 1880s through to the early 1920s. [While we have been unable to identify the author or the company that created this significant and historic record we have no doubt that local historians and researchers will have little difficulty revealing the source.] The large, 14 x 9 inch folio book is comprised of data regarding the size, costs, finances and str... View More...
On offer is a simply sensational, riveting, original, very intriguing significant manuscript autobiography dated Dec. 27, '96 (1896) of a young Muslim boy who recounts over 69 or so pages his birth on the sands of the desert near Fez and his enslavement and eventual repatriation. The details of his life a nothing short of remarkable for readers in the 21st Century: his parents; a father of immense piety, his mother, an outcast of her tribe and himself a young boy who would eventually watch his father and his mother be murdered separately. Historians and researchers will find a fascinating and ... View More...
On offer is a sensational, original late 19th Century handwritten manuscript relic of the noted American Ship 'Conqueror' being a 126 page journal of a New York to Sydney New South Wales voyage from March 4th 1897 through June 22nd 1897. The unidentified writer does a super job on the narrative the first month or so but maintains course and weather information throughout the voyage and then some more personal narrative and observations a few weeks before landfall. And while the writer is unknown we can state the person was a passenger, not crew, but a passenger of some experience aboard a ocea... View More...
On offer is an original, fascinating, very intriguing c1870s manuscript diary and journal of an unknown writer living in Prince Arthur's Landing part of Thunder Bay Ontario on the north shore of Lake Superior. Truly an enigmatic book which labelled by hand "Alfred Tennyson Miscellanies" but one finds nothing of Tennyson but many other writings and narrative such as a superbly done in calligraphic hand index of important British milestones in history from the landing of Julius Caesar to Beckett's murder to, lastly, the Act of Habeus Corpus. There are a couple of chart like drawings, wha... View More...
On offer is an original, exceptional manuscript ship's book, one part ledger and some parts account of the ill-fated and tragic brig "Harriet G." The Harriet G is an unfortunate ship: by misfortune it runs aground and this in turn lays the ground work for various tragic events to save her. In addition she suffers major damage in 1879 in a Hurricane and then a yellow fever outbreak off the coast of South America here is an excerpt from that trip: "At 5 pm anchored off the castle of San Carlos. Got under way next morning and that night anchored of Maracailo and found all the vessels ... View More...
On offer is an interesting, rather charming original 1891 manuscript diary handwritten by an Ottawa Canada student, Walter B. Martin, detailing his personal and school times and activities. As with most Canadiana weather plays an important role and is mention daily. A gift from Sid, to Mudde [a nickname we assume] carries the inscription: 'Write in this diary everyday or I will pound you when we meet.' He writes from February 1st to sometime in May when he states his inability to carry on writing a diary. Oddly the first few pages are only Sundays. [He used a red ink at times which smudged som... View More...
On offer is a super, original 1891 manuscript relic of a Victorian Era teacher named of Jennie T. Weimer, handwritten while Jennie was in her 8th year of teaching at the University of Akron [founded in 1870 as Buchtel College] and while she does not specify the University of Akron she makes mention Professors Glover, Wise, Hamblin and Fraunfelter and writes about the "New Building" and Crouse Gymnasium and Albert Hall which makes the fact it is U of A conclusive. Jennie was born on August 8th, 1865. Her mother was Mary C. Weimer and either her father died or left them at an early age b... View More...
On offer is an original handwritten diary authored by C. W. Wheeler, containing brief records of farming operations through different seasons, with occasional mentions of weather, and track of prices for products and labour. There is a handwritten note on the endpaper: C.W. Wheelers Diary 1878. The book itself is titled "The Standard Diary" and contains almanac material, postage rates, weights and measures, festivals, etc. Wheeler was keeping cattle, growing crops, did some building and repair work for himself, and for neighbours, sometimes hiring help. In winter he was cutting and dra... View More...
On offer is a sensational December 1870 to June 1871 manuscript journal and diary of Will A. Briggs as noted in his own hand on the title page. One part travel diary, another part historical observations on the condition of Europe and specifically Germany and the city of Berlin during the Franco-Prussian War [we particularly note his description of Berlin during the celebration of Berliners to the successful Siege of Paris and Armistice January 1871] and another part handwritten relic of a serious student and composer of music, this book was obviously a treasure to the author given the fact th... View More...
On offer are the original 1879 and 1883 manuscript diaries historically relevant to the history of Cooperstown New York. While there is no indication of authorship specified in the books there are enclosed a number of ephemeral pieces that suggest the owner was "William A. Doubleday". There is also an 1870 promissory note with the names Sally Doubleday, Elizabeth Doubleday and Abner Doubleday. Casual research affirms the family's connection to Cooperstown and we suggest but cannot confirm that the Abner Doubleday mentioned herein is the noted inventor of baseball. [Further research not... View More...
On offer is an interesting manuscript diary dated January 1, 1869 through to March, 1870 handwritten by William B. Clark of Milford, Connecticut. Mr. Clark is a cobbler who works heeling shoes along with farm work at home. His is married to Mary, and his children include Willie, Frank and Charlotte. William is a prolific writer writing every day from the mundane to the sensational: local events including seeing Tom Thumb from the train, births, deaths, family news, work and mentions of the flu which appears to be going around. Here are some snippets: Jan 1 - New Year's Day. Willie's foot and l... View More...
On offer is an original, superb relic of the Civil War and an incredibly detailed, historical document with a riveting narrative being the journal of William. B. Stark beginning with his enlistment July 21st 1862 until April 13th 1865 when he relates the details of Appomattox and Lee's surrender and the jubilation of the troops. Thusly his entire tour in the Civil War. Stark was from Egremont, Massachusetts near the New York state border in western Massachusetts. Mr. Stark served in the 34th Regiment Infantry Massachusetts Volunteers. This is one of the most detailed writings of one man's serv... View More...
On offer are two handwritten manuscript diaries written by William Dufour of New York City. We are not sure of the precise connection but these diaries came from a Scenery Hill, Pennsylvania estate and connected to famed Civil War Governor Curtin of Pennsylvania. Further research should establish the connection. Mr. Dufour identifies himself on the fep of the earliest diary. While no war content these diaries are fascinating for the fact that these diaries are a look at the New York social scene and the gender sensibilities of the times. Young Dufour is obsessed with relationships with the gir... View More...
On offer is a fascinating nine page 1893 manuscript account of voyage handwritten by United States Navy midshipman William E. McKay aboard the flagship Franklin. [McKay was made lieutenant and commanded the Inca, 1898.] Titled: 'Morocco, Melilla and the Moors. A Boar Hunt at Tangiers by William E. McKay, Boston, 1893' William relates the history of the area, religion, war and a personal account of boar hunt in Tangiers. Here are some snippets: "Throughout Morocco, all idiots and lunatics are accounted saints. When Allah withdraws the reason, it is a mark of his special favour...." "... View More...
On offer are two diaries that belonged to a mid-19th Century Circuit preacher in the American Midwest. The author of these 2 diaries is William G. Littell. He was born in 1833. He became a preacher with the Methodist Church, working mostly in Ohio. Church records show him assigned to the Wiltshire Circuit and later, by 1869, to a circuit in Kansas. He passed away in 1899 at the age of 66. Our informal research has not turned up any additional biographical information about him. At the time he kept these two diaries, according to his entries on the first page, he was living in Delaware, OH. He ... View More...
On offer is an excellent slim leather-bound notebook detailing an 1890 trip from Washington to Europe. The notebook spans a period from July 3, 1890 to Sept 19th, 1890. The writer is one William Hahn. The book is about 5" by 3" The leather cover is worn but intact. Entries are in ink and quite legible. There are 90 pages of quad-ruled pages of which 78 contain entries. Research suggests that this is the founder of the Wm Hahn & Co retail shoe chain which remained in business for 119 years. There are references to 'Fred' in the early pages July 6, 8, 12- Hahn had a brother Fred who man... View More...
On offer is boyhood journal of William Smith Leonard of Dublin, NH, written throughout 1841 and the very beginning of 1842. Leonard is a child and the journal covers the day-to-day life of the young man and his observations of the world around him. William Leonard was born in 1832, so this diary would be written when he was 9 years old. He often mention the daily weather, as well as playing outside when the snow melts, shooting a bow and arrow, building a violin, going to church meetings and school, and often being sick. He has a childlike awe and wonder to his writing that is a delight to rea... View More...
On offer is a remarkable, very intriguing, grouping of handwritten letters, drawings and covers from the William Tudor family of Boston Massachusetts. There are twelve [12] letters with their envelopes the [five letters are from 1872 and 1873 when William was in Paris to marry his wife Elizabeth Whitwell], three empty covers and two slips of paper with drawings. The letters date from 1873-1915 and curiously one last letter from 1961. The drawings don't have dates but look like late 1800's. The three remaining empty envelopes are from 1879, 1894 and one has no date. William Tudor was born to Fr... View More...
