Captain Bligh`s second mutiny: the Rum Rebellion - photo 1
Captain Bligh`s second mutiny: the Rum Rebellion - photo 2

Captain Bligh`s second mutiny: the Rum Rebellion

Lot 115
06.10.2022 12:00UTC -05:00
Classic
Starting price
$ 3 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 813738
Lot 115 | Captain Bligh's second mutiny: the Rum Rebellion
Estimate value
$ 3 000 – 5 000
Captain Bligh's second mutiny: the Rum Rebellion

1811, 1881

THE RUM REBELLION – BLIGH, William – Typescript, "Proceedings of a General Court-Martial, held at Chelsea Hospital Which commenced on Tuesday, May 7, 1811, and continued by adjournment to Wednesday, 5th of June following, for The Trial of Lieut. -Col. Geo. Johnston... on Charge of Munity..." [London 1888].



660 typescript pages with manuscript annotations in several hands, quarto (250 190mm). Red morocco with gilt titling and ribbed spine.



Captain Bligh's second mutiny: a unique typescript of Rum Rebellion leader George Johnston's court martial. William Bligh's reputation as a strict disciplinarian prompted Joseph Banks, the main sponsor of his ill-fated breadfruit expedition, to recommend him as the governor of New South Wales—a post he took up in 1806. Within two years his efforts to control corruption in the colony drew the ire of many established colonists and he found himself deposed and under arrest by a force of 400 soldiers under the command of Lieutenant Colonel George Johnston. Bligh went into exile in Tasmania and remained there until 1810 when the rebel government that Johnston had established had been deposed. Immediately on his arrival back in Sydney Bligh began collecting evidence against Johnston who was subsequently tried in England and cashiered out of the service as punishment. The present typescript of the trial was commissioned by his descendants, some of whom have inscribed this volume, likely as a means to document and preserve their ancestor's legacy. A lengthy inscription by Douglas Hope Johnston best explains the circumstances surrounding the typescript's production: "This book was especially typed at the British Museum London for my father, who was then in London, in 1888 by one of the Museum's official typists. Special permission being given for that purpose, as the trustees of the Museum would not allow their copy of The Trial to be removed out of the Museum. This book when completed was checked and certified as the correct copy of the book in the Museum … It is the only authentic and correct typed copy of Lt Col Johnston's trial known to exist, the published copies in book form are rare and hard to get." Provenance: Percival Johnston (1888 inscription) – Douglas Hope Johnston (bookplate on front pastedown; 1922 inscription).

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