Art, Gold & Silver, Primitives & Rare Books
Lot 227:
Description
Rare manuscript ledger titled “A tabular account of transatlantic steam navigation from its successful commencement from Europe to the City of New York in the year 1838,” documenting the earliest era of commercial steamship crossings of the Atlantic. The handwritten chart records 28 voyages and includes vessels such as Sirius, Great Western, Royal William, Liverpool, and British Queen, all historically significant ships from the pioneering years of transatlantic steam navigation. The ledger lists commanders, ports of departure including Cork, Bristol, Liverpool, and London, as well as dates of sailing, arrival dates in New York, and the number of days required for each passage, providing a contemporary record of early steam travel across the Atlantic during the formative years of regular service. Notably the Sirius and Great Western voyages of April 1838, the first successful transatlantic steamship crossings, are recorded along with subsequent sailings through the year, and the page concludes with a note referencing the shortest western passage on record. The manuscript appears bound within a mid-19th century ledger book containing additional handwritten notes, clippings, and ephemera, making this a remarkable historical document connected to the beginnings of modern transatlantic passenger travel and steam navigation history. Sirius – Captain Roberts – Cork – departed April 4, arrived New York April 23 (17 days); Great Western – Captain Hosken – Bristol – departed April 7, arrived New York April 23 (15 days); Sirius – Captain Roberts – Cork – departed May 31, arrived New York June 19 (18 days); Royal William – Captain Swinburn – Liverpool – departed July 5, arrived New York July 24 (18 days); Great Western – Captain Hosken – Bristol – departed July 21, arrived New York August 5 (14 days); Ditto (Great Western) – Captain Hosken – Bristol – departed September 8, arrived New York September 24 (16 days); Royal William – Captain Swinburn – Liverpool – departed September 20, arrived New York October 10 (20 days); Liverpool – Captain Fayrer – Liverpool – departed October 20, arrived New York November 5 (18 days); President – Captain Hosken – Bristol – departed October 27, arrived New York November 15 (19 days); Liverpool – Captain Fayrer – Cork – departed November 6, arrived New York November 23 (17 days); Royal William – Captain Swinburn – Liverpool – departed December 15, arrived New York January 1 (17 days); Great Western – Captain Hosken – Bristol – departed January 13, arrived New York February 1 (19 days); Liverpool – Captain Fayrer – Liverpool – departed February 6, arrived New York February 25 (18 days); Great Western – Captain Hosken – Bristol – departed March 8, arrived New York March 23 (20 days); Liverpool – Captain Fayrer – Liverpool – departed March 20, arrived New York April 7 (18 days); British Queen – Captain Roberts – London – departed April 4, arrived New York May 18 (45 days); Great Western – Captain Hosken – Bristol – departed May 18, arrived New York May 31 (13½ days); Liverpool – Captain Fayrer – Liverpool – departed June 13, arrived New York June 30 (17 days); Great Western – Captain Hosken – Bristol – departed July 6, arrived New York July 22 (16 days); British Queen – Captain Roberts – London – departed July 4, arrived New York July 28 (15½ days); Liverpool – Captain Fayrer – Liverpool – departed August 1, arrived New York August 19 (17½ days); Great Western – Captain Hosken – Bristol – departed August 24, arrived New York September 10 (16½ days); British Queen – Captain Roberts – London – departed September 3, arrived New York September 20 (17 days); Liverpool – Captain Fayrer – Liverpool – departed September 11, arrived New York October 10 (19 days); Great Western – Captain Hosken – Bristol – departed October 2, arrived New York November 2 (17½ days); British Queen – Captain Roberts – London – departed November 2, arrived New York November 22 (20 days); Liverpool – Captain Fayrer – Liverpool – departed November 16, arrived New York December 3 (19 days).
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