On offer is a super, original manuscript relic of travel through England on its inland waterways and canals as handwritten by the intrepid author "Rutland Bleign" [but really unidentified as it seems a pseudonym] who is travelling with his friend and illustrator, the brace working to publish the as titled book: "In Tow: The Chronicle of a Cruise in a Monkey Boat." Written from August 6th through the 28th in 1890 [he leaves off the year but some sleuthing concluded definitely the year as stated] the manuscript which appears unpublished details the three week cruise on the histor... View More...
On offer is a superb, though flawed, original manuscript 1891 - 1892 travel diary detailing day to day life workings and aboard a 3 masted schooner sailing to the 'far side of the world' from New York City to Hong Kong and back. Inscribed, in a later hand: 'Uncle Fred Hartford's Diary on Board The Sterling Capt. Geo. Goodwin 1891 - 1892 Voyage from New York to Hong Kong by Sailing Ship 196 days'. 'The Sterling' commanded by Captain George Goodwin and this extended trip to the Far East and back are told over approximately 181 intact pages, numbered page 3 - 184 with several loose pages, a small... View More...
On offer is a fascinating, original early 19th Century 38 page manuscript diary handwritten by a 21 year old female member of the Deforest family, we believe, and living in and around Stratford Connecticut. Dated January 1826 through February 1827 we surmise she is a novice or novitiate [she is allowed home] in a not too faraway convent with frequent mentions Sister Maria, Sister Betsey, etc., and that she sits in her 'chamber' window' etc. That said she still has a life and family outside of the convent with travels to Milford, Bridgeport, Putney [north end of Stratford], and of course many, ... View More...
On offer is an interesting, original manuscript relic of North-South trade being an 1843 handwritten letter dated Mobile Alabama as field representative A.C. Mathewson writes his head office of jewellers Mathewson Allen and Co. of Rhode Island. Addresses to the company his correspondent was likely his relation Nathan Fuller Mathewson, [born: 7 Sep 1814, Warren RI, Marriage: Susan Green Wightman about 1840 in Providence RI, Died: 27 May 1901, Jeweler and partner from circa 1835 to 1848 with Bradford Allen in Providence RI as MATHEWSON & ALLEN, listed in the 1836 city directory with a shop on th... View More...
On offer is an original rather enigmatic and very intriguing 1862 manuscript diary handwritten by A. K. Jacobs a 22 year old man [he is 23 years old on December 23rd] who at the beginning of the diary was a teacher at Eckley School and going to White Haven in Luzerne County. Soon he tires of teaching, a Mr. Tarbox takes over, and Mr. Jacobs heads to Philadelphia, then to Harrisburg, Williamsport, Elmira and finally ends up on the shores of Lake Erie where starts an engineering/surveying job [research finds a civil engineer, A. K. Jacobs, in the 1880 census, living in Lock Haven Pennsylvania, b... View More...
On offer is a manuscript travel journal of a sea voyage from Plymouth England to Quebec and an overland tour to Toronto and Hamilton made in the month following the Confederation authored by an Englishman identified by his own inscription as A. W. Row. It gives a fabulous opportunity to see Canada through the eyes of an early traveller. He travelled by boat, rail and horse-car, comparing the sights to England and expressing especial liking towards Hamilton, Ontario. On July 11, 1867 he boarded a brig named "Eliza", commanded by Captain Barrett: "Arrived on board the Eliza at noon, ... View More...
On offer is a super, significant original 1881 - 1885 manuscript diary handwritten by Abel Veil Shotwell the then scion of a many, many generations established in New Jersey family and whose ancestors crossed from England on the second Mayflower, after their original ship the Speedwell was turned back, landing at Plymouth Massachusetts in the later half of the 17th Century but eventually settling on the banks of the Rahway River in New Jersey around 1709. Abel's father was a tanner but Abel's path began as a clerk in a mercantile house, then insurance settling into banking. He was also a Direc... View More...
On offer is a fascinating diary of an intelligent, musical upper class woman dating from the immediate years before the outbreak of the Civil War in the United States. The diary was written by Abigail (Abbie) Brown Shaw Cole (1823-1906). Written primarily in 1859 and 1860, when she was aged 36-40, Abbie does make one entry in 1869. Abbie was born in Providence, Rhode Island, to Oliver and Sarah (Jenckes) Shaw. Her father was a musician and composer who composed hymns and songs including ?Taunton?, "Bristol?, "Arrayed in Clouds of Golden Light," and "The Missionary Angel." In 1846, Abbie marrie... View More...
On offer is a super, original 1862 - 1871 manuscript diary handwritten by Abijah W. Talbut [sometimes Talbot] of Columbia Falls Maine who was a minor inventor and likely cranberry farmer as we note from one online reference: "… it was the rake developed by Abijah Talbot of Columbia Falls, Maine that became the standard for the industry. This rake was similar to those used for harvesting cranberries, but had metal teeth and a flat bottom like a dustpan. With only minor modifications it is still in use by many growers." The diary has 110+ pages of which most are financial and expense ent... View More...
On offer are five handwritten manuscript journals all having belonged to the Caldwell family who lived in Massachusetts, [one of the diaries, 1870, has the name Ezra S. Vieyes written in it. A casual reading does not determine where Ezra fits in with the Caldwell family but a more detailed reading will hopefully flesh out the relationship.] Two of the diaries have the name of the family scion being Abraham Caldwell, of Ipswich Massachusetts. Other towns mentioned include Westminster, Fitchburg, Northborough and Worcester. The diaries represent the years 1867 (full of entries), 1870 (a quarter ... View More...
Excellent archive of three [3] handwritten Victorian era diaries from a school girl, Adell Jones, who lived in Pulaski and Oswego, NY. Two are 1869 and 73, written in pencil, among many things, she tells of fellow student Nellie Burt, age 12 died etc. Third book is from 1889, now she’s married and includes local names from Pulaski - friends, family members etc. Some normal exterior wear, these diaries make for interesting look at 19th century life pioneer life and from a women's studies perspective it is charming to see this young woman grow up. ; 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall; KEYWORDS: ... View More...
On offer is a super, original manuscript relic of naval life and adventure for a young British midshipman and future Admiral named Albert Sumner Lafone during his service and first voyage on H.M.S. Triumph, Flag Ship of the Pacific Squadron, in the years 1879 - 1880. Titled 'Extracts from letters written by to his mother while on his first voyage' the elegant 9 x 7 inch black limp leather covers gilt panelling and marbled endpapers. The 104 pages are fair copies in a secretarial hand or perhaps a scrivener of the intimate descriptive letters to his mother of the future Admiral Lafone while un... View More...
On offer is a super relic of pre Civil War Americana that collector and historians will appreciate on a number of levels: a mere six years after incorporation of Lawrence he writes detailed descriptions of local events, names recorded of visitors and then his own life experience: a young, deeply introspective man whose life is one of failure and illness, injury and desire. The 188 hand-numbered pages are handwritten by Albert M Mead of Lawrence Massachusetts a 20 year old whose large 10.25 x 7.5 inch journal is densely written and covers the period of January 1859 through 1860. Albert starts r... View More...
On offer are two [2] original 1892 and 1893 manuscript diaries and 90+ ephemeral pieces handwritten and once belonging to Albert Wilson Condon of Frederick Maryland [both diaries have his name engraved, written and/or stamped on them]. Albert [March 30th, 1874 - May 16th, 1940] owned the first 5 & Dime in old downtown Frederick and became sole owner of the Condon Tobacco Store. In the 1892 diary from January 1st to January 15th he has written poems and sayings. Then his trip to Washington D.C. falls in the month of September, which he writes about. But he also rewrites a summary of that trip o... View More...
On offer is an outstanding journal of an adventurous voyage in the 1870s. Measuring 8.25 inches by 6.25 inches, it contains 46 pages. It is about 76% complete. The handwriting is clear and legible. The spine of the hardbound book has broken and the covers are loosely attached but all pages are intact and in good condition. Albion Sanborn was a 35 year old married man living in West Amesbury, MA in the later 1860s/early 1870s. He decides to leave his wife Maria and their child to go to California to seek his fortune and then return home at some unspecified time in the future. Casual research ha... View More...
On offer is the amazing 1872 handwritten manuscript diary of the young Alfred C. Johnson of 727 Pine Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Research suggests this is the same man that becomes Consul of the United States at Stuttgart, Germany in the future and as late as 1896. Mr. Johnson is a literate, observant diarist who details a very interesting life [just one year out of school but he writes and shows interests of a middle aged man] of going to the theatre [Walnut Street is a favorite] and opera, lectures and speeches and he never fails to mentions both birthdays, anniversaries, deaths and ... View More...
On offer is an interesting little diary of a farm wife in rural Maine in mid-19th century America. It measures 4.75 inches by 3.25 inches and contains 60 pages plus memoranda. The binding, covers and pages are in good condition. The handwriting is in pencil and, although faded somewhat, is legible. Also included in the diary are a number of pieces of ephemera. Alice Goodrich was born in 1853 in the village of Bingham, ME. She married in 1873 and had 3 children. She passed away in 1908 at the age of 54. Married to Granville Goodrich, she lived on a farm near the village. Her household is a busy... View More...
On offer is a super archive of manuscript letters and a diary handwritten by Almon W. Howes who lived in Nugget Colorado as a gold miner. Mr. Howes does a great job describing his life and works in short entries over 63 pages that starts on April 6, 1896 and ends on January 31, 1898. Along with the journal there are also about 20 persoonal and business letters and documents that were received by him from various relatives and business associates [some of the envelopes have a Nugget postmark] that further flesh out and add depth to history of this miner's life. He begins on April 6, 1896: "... View More...
On offer is a fascinating diary detailing the final legal studies of a successful lawyer at the end of the 19th century in mid-western America. Measuring approximately 6 inches by 3 inches, the diary contains 110 pages plus numerous other memoranda and accounts pages. The diary is about 90% complete. The cover is damaged and the front cover nearly detached With the exception of the frontispiece page which is loose, the binding for all other pages is secure. Ambrose C. Epperson is the 2nd of a 3-generation legal family. His father, John L Epperson, was a practicing lawyer in Nebraska and his so... View More...
On offer is an archive of six [6] original manuscript diaries handwritten by Andrew C. Walch a newspaper man who worked mostly in Mankato Kansas in the 1890s. The diaries represent 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, and 1897. The early diary begins with Andrew living in Seymour Wisconsin, in the fall he moves to Mankato Kansas. The next four diaries, 1893-1896 show him still in Mankato and finally in the 1897 diary he's in Manawa Wisconsin. Andrew is an unstinting diarist rarely failing to write and all the diaries are full save for 1897 which is about ¼ full. Historians and collectors of late 19th... View More...
![Image for 1881 - 1885 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT DIARY HANDWRITTEN BY THE SCION OF A LONG ESTABLISHED [1709] NEW JERSEY FAMILY WITH ROOTS TO THE MAYFLOWER](/assets/images/product/0002306_1fd934c22cc5941027bd40cfedd4d7be.jpg)
