Remarkable 19th-century sketchbook with coloured drawings of early 19th-century American ships, with the names, home ports, and destinations listed. They are all sailing ships, depicted in full sail. Most drawings are dated, so they were most likely made by a sailor who was a crew member on the ships in those years. These are the only contemporary depictions of some of the vessels.
The work contains 26 different drawings of various sailing ships. Included are the United States, a three-masted US Navy frigate built at the end of the 18th century, the Siren, a US gun brig that served during the first Barbary War (1801-1805), and the Patron, an immigrant ship built in Boston. Of particular interest is the drawing of the Houqua. This was the ship of captain Valentine Pease Jr. (1797-1807), who was also the captain of the ship Herman Melville (1819-1891) made his very first whaling expedition on, and who possibly served as the inspiration for Ahab in Moby Dick. The drawing is dated 1831. It is known that the Houqua did set out on a whaling voyage in that year, which lasted until 1835. This voyage was unusual, because only 3 of the original 25 crew members returned. Two members, including the first mate, were discharged for unknown reasons, 11 of the crew deserted, and another 9 drowned. It is possible that the draughtsman of the present sketchbook was one of the crewmembers during this voyage.
With small stains on the front and back. The sewing thread has broken between the second and third hole. The front wrapper is slightly creased. One of the tissue paper guards is loose and frayed, with loss of material around the edges, somewhat affecting the drawing. Otherwise in good condition. Cf. Heflin, W. L., Melville's whaling years, pp. 18-24.