6133

18th Century

ILLUSTRATED RECORD OF EVENTS ABOARD THE SHIP "MINERVA" OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS

Titled in watercolor "A Record of Events Each Day Aboard Ship Minerva of Salem Mass" surrounding an image of the ship. Inscribed in ink below "Jacob Crowningshield Master on a Voyage from London to Madeira -- Teneriffe -- San Jago -- Madras -- and to Salem from August 26th 1795 to April 18th 1796". Contains approx. 80 pre-printed pages with handwritten daily log entries (some pages left blank), presumably kept by Captain Jacob Crowningshield and/or his first officer after Crowningshield became incapacitated by illness. Records wind speed and other weather notes; rigging and sail formations and adjustments; sightings of other vessels, whales and other marine life; employments aboard ship; course direction; and longitude and latitude readings. Whale stamps and ink sketches of ships, whales and demon creatures scattered throughout, totaling approx. 16. Notably includes a sepia watercolor scene of a ship captioned "Anchored safely in Funchal Roads [Madeira] this day" (September 5, 1795), and records the ship being attacked by two boats of Madagascar pirates (January 5, 1796), a sailor's knife wound being dressed after an altercation with a native onshore (February 1, 1796) and the captain falling ill with dysentery and being confined to his bed (February 2-3, 1796). Also makes note of other trips ashore and other encounters with hostile vessels.
Half-leather with marbled boards.
13" x 8.25".
Condition: Leaves generally bright and clean. Boards scuffed and worn. Hand-colored and engraved bookplate of A.G. Hickman inside front cover. Hinges reinforced. Some drawings possibly later additions.

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:
    Ship Registers of Salem and Beverly (Salem, Mass.: 1906) lists the ship Minerva at 266 tons, registered December 23, 1794 under owner Richard Crowninshield and master Jacob Crowninshield. We presume the master on this voyage was this Jacob Crowninshield, not Crowningshield as seen on the title page.

    Jacob Crowninshield ended his ocean-going days not long after this voyage and became a politician. He was first elected to the Massachusetts State Senate in 1801, then went on to serve as a U.S. representative from Massachusetts for three terms. In 1805, he was an appointee by President Jefferson as U.S. Secretary of the Navy, but he declined the position. In 1808 he died age 38 of tuberculosis.

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March 3, 2026 9:30 AM EST
East Dennis, MA, US

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