[122] pp. 19.5x16 cm (7¼x6¼"), marbled boards, spine repaired with tape.
Log of four voyages transporting wheat and other commodities to the far-flung reaches of the world. The first voyage was from San Francisco, "Towards Cork," with a cargo of wheat, an indication of the growing agricultural power of California - the "Edith" landed in Queenstown (now Cobh, a town south of Cork), then made her way to Liverpool. From Liverpool, she set out for New York, carrying "Salt, soda ash, etc." From New York it was back to San Francisco, with a General Cargo, and after a passage of 141 days, and a turn-around time of 19 days, it was across the Pacific to Manila, "In Ballast." The journal records the usual statistics of wind and weather, the latitude and longitude, and also sightings of and interactions with other ships, and other incidents of note. One of the was leaving San Francisco on the first voyage, when "one of the men John Berry by name jumped overboard and was picked up by a fishing boat. Could not stop ship..." Come Christmas, the Edith was hailed "by boat from the 'Glory', with invitation to Christmas dinner... very pleasant time and a beautiful day..." There are details of sailing techniques and procedures given, the sails set in reaction to wind and weather, etc. Accompanied by a typed letter from the San Francisco Maritime Museum, 1978, outlining a article to be written based on this journal, with emphasis on the burgeoning grain trade out of San Francisco in the latter third of the 19th century. Also present is a copy photograph of the ship Edith, anchored in port, here three masts uncluttered by sails.
Condition:
The repair to the spine a little crude, the contents are coming loose; but quite clean internally, and legible.