4688

1815-1829

FIVE EARLY WHALING LOG BOOKS

Bound together in a single volume and covering five voyages under the command of Captain John Bunker (1784-1854). Unpaginated but includes approx. 353 pages plus accounts. Sailcloth cover marked on front "JB 1815". Includes:
1) "A Journal of A Voyage from Fairhaven towards the Coast of Patagonia On Board the ship Herald which commenced on Tuesday July 18th 1815". Approx. 126 pages. Voyage lasted until June 22, 1816 and yielded 1,400 barrels of whale oil. This is one of the earliest whaling logs to appear on the market in at least 40 years, and only about 115 manuscripts earlier than 1815 exist in public collections.
2) "A Journal of the Voyage from New Bedford to the Cape of Good Hope on Board of the Ship Herald which Commenced on Wednesday January the 2nd 1817". Approx. 36 pages. Voyage lasted until May 26, 1818 and yielded 130 barrels of sperm oil and 700 whale oil.
3) "A Journal of Voyage from Nantucket towards the Pacific around Cape Horn on Board Ship John Jay which commenced on Saturday August 29 1818". Approx. 58 pages. Voyage lasted until May of 1821 and yielded 369 barrels of sperm oil and 100 whale oil.
4) Voyage from New London "to the Pacific Ocean on Board the Connecticut which commenced Oct. 17th 1822" (text in upper margin illegible). Approx. 49 pages. Contains hand-drawn whale stamps. Voyage lasted until April 30, 1825 and yielded 2,154 barrels of sperm oil.
5) "A Journal of A Voyage from Fairhaven to the Pacific Ocean A Whaling on Board the Ship Origon which commenced on Monday December 12th 1825". Approx. 84+ pages. Voyage lasted until May 31, 1829 and yielded 1,900 barrels of sperm oil. The ship is listed incorrectly in Starbuck as "Oregon", not Origon. Of note, scrimshander Edward M. Burdett is known to have sailed aboard the Origon, and although a crew list does not exist, a Burdett scrimshaw whale's tooth with an inscription indicating he was aboard the ship Origon of Fairhaven is dated 1827. Given this voyage lasted from 1825 to 1829, it can be conjectured Burdett was aboard during the trip covered in this log.
13.5" x 8.5".
Condition: Fair to good condition. Toned. Scattered foxing and stains.

The absence of a condition report does not imply an object is free of defects. All items may have normal signs of age and wear commensurate with their age; these issues will likely not be mentioned in the condition report. Please contact Eldred's before the auction with any condition questions. Questions about condition will not be answered after purchase. Condition reports are provided as a courtesy, and we are not responsible for any errors or omissions. Important note on frames: Frames are not guaranteed to be in the same condition as they are in the item photograph. Due to handling and shipping, many frames, especially antique ones, are prone to losses. If you have questions about the condition of a frame, please contact us prior to the auction. 

  • Provenance: Notes:
    John Bunker was born on Nantucket and made six whaling voyages, five of which are covered in these logs. His last voyage was aboard the
    Pindus , from 1830 to 1821, which sailed from Fairhaven to the Pacific. He died in Fairhaven.

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