Shakespeare, William. Recording a voyage from New York to San Francisco. - photo 1
Shakespeare, William. Recording a voyage from New York to San Francisco. - photo 2
Shakespeare, William. Recording a voyage from New York to San Francisco. - photo 1

Recording a voyage from New York to San Francisco.

Lot 198
15.10.2021 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
$ 5 000
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 627689
Lot 198 | Recording a voyage from New York to San Francisco.
Estimate value
$ 3 000 – 5 000
JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE TO CALIFORNIA – Manuscript journal entitled on the first page, "John E. Randall Privet [sic] Journal on Board ship Star of the Union," sailing from New York to San Francisco to the Chincha Islands, 13 June - 24 December 1854.

71 pages, 334 x 205mm, bound in marbled boards (mild dampstains to inside front cover and the first few pages, binding loose).

A log of a sea voyage from New York to San Francisco via Cape Horn in the first years of the California Gold Rush. A lengthy and detailed journal kept by a crew member of the crew of the Star of the Union detailing its departure from New York (14 June) and the several-month journey around South America to the Port of San Francisco (arriving 13 October). Passing around Cape Horn in the Southern Hemisphere's late winter, the journalist takes a profile sketch of what he describes as "the most dreary looking piece of land I ever Saw in my life." While docked in San Francisco, Randall records discord between the crew and the captain over pay and records his displeasure with the city: "This evening [Tuesday 16 October] I went up in company with the 4rd mate to Se[e] the Fushions[?] I could not Se[e] aney [sic] diffarence [sic] in the moral character of the place than when I was here before at 10 P.M. I came on board disgusted with the place and everything I saw." Although he contemplated never leaving the ship again, a visit from a Mr. Sherman, and "a long talk with him about home," changed his feelings and he accepted an invitation to dine with him "at his ranch" the following Sunday. At midday dinner, Randall was treated to a meal of "Corned beef & vegatables [sic] of all Sorts & kinds" in Sherman's three room house about two miles from the waterfront. Upon departing San Francisco, they sailed in company with the "clipper ship Mary Robinson of new Bedford bound for Callao," adding that "we shall Se[e] one of these days who gets there farst [sic] we will have to look at her with a jealous eye…" The log continues, documenting their voyage south toward Peru and ends abruptly off the coast near the Chincha Islands. Provenance: James Augustine Farrell (bookplate).
Artist:William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616)
Applied technique:Pencil
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
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01.10.2021 – 15.10.2021
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
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