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Approximately 178 leaves plus blanks at end. With Ms. calligraphic title-page in color, “A Journal of Ship Geo. Howland of New Bedford, A.C. Cushman. 1842, 43, 44”; at the top of the first page of entries, also in color, “S. Geo. Howland from New Bedford Towards the Pacific Ocean, A.C. Cushman Comdr.” With daily or nearly daily entries recording the weather, sailing conditions, route, longitude and latitude, plus whaling activities such as sighting whales, lowering boats, striking the whales, pulling them alongside the ship, cutting them up and boiling them down to whale oil. Also such activities as stowing the barrels of oil, mending sails, painting the boat, and when ashore or at a harbor gathering or purchasing supplies, water, timber, etc.  There are running headings throughout describing the general course. The journal is greatly enhanced by some 100 watercolor drawings, ranging from simple depictions of whale tails to indicate sighting, but not capturing whales, to three full-page watercolors of the ship and whaling activities. 38.3x25.5 cm. (15x10”), original quarter vellum & boards, with remains of a watercolor of the ship mounted on the front cover.

Spectacular whaling journal recording three and a half years at sea seeking whales, with an exceptional array of watercolors of whales, ships and boats engaged in the great maritime exercise of the 19th century. The Geo. Howland set out from New Bedford on May 20th, 1842, and did not return until the penultimate day of November, 1845. Most of the time she was cruising up and down the west coast of South America, occasionally stopping at various ports for supplies, recruiting replacements for the crew, and social diversions. Mostly it was searching for whales, sighting the whales, lowering the boats, striking the whales, and bringing them alongside for rendering. In the 19th century whale oil had a variety of uses, from lubricants and soap to lamp fuel and more.  Many of the whales described as struck and caught in the present journal were sperm whales, prized because they produced oil that was considered to be superior to that of other whales, and which sold for more. 

The water colors in the journal include three marvelous full-page paintings, of two whales being attacked by two whale boats, with the ship in the background; of two whales surrounded by four whale boats, with two large ships in the background; and a large ship, likely the Geo. Howland herself, with a mountainous shore at the right. In addition, there are some 13 smaller views, about a quarter page each, of ships and whales, and some with whale boats – one of these depicts a capsized whaleboat, with a coffin floating in the sea, and the accompanying text relates how one Samuel Watson was drowned when the boat was overturned. Thirty-eight  are of whale tails (some with more than one), indicating whales sighted but not struck; 22 are of one or more whole whales, indicating whales caught; 8 are of whales with ships or boats; 15 are of ships, depicting fellow whalers or merchantmen that they encountered and “spoke” to (in the case of whalers, usually the length of time spent on their voyage and the number of barrels of oil thus far procured). The watercolors are superbly executed, and represent the epitome of American folk art of the 19th century, although towards the end of the journal they become fewer in number and less painstakingly drawn. A few of the daily entries follow:

• Friday, May 20th, 1842 – At 4½ am. Left home with a heavy heart and many tears, and I am not sensible that I ever knew what it was to leave home before… At 8½ am we weighed our anchor and stood to Sea, with fresh gales and heavy rains from E.N.E….
• Friday, Oct. 21, 1842 - …Saw many finbacks… Saw a large shoal of Sperm Whales, large, lowered 4 boats could not strike at 8 came on board at 9 lowered again and struck one. Irion broke and lost him, came on board. So ends… [with watercolor of two large and two small whale tails to indicate sighting but not capture]
• Monday, Oct. 24, 1842 - …At 2 pm lowered 2 boats at 3 struck a large whale at 5 took him to the ship all hands engaged in getting ready for cutting at 4½ am. Commcd. cutting. [with watercolor of full whale body to indicated actual capture of whale]
• Friday, Nov. 10, 1843 – Begins with light winds from E.S.E… At 3 p.m. saw sperm whales lowered 4 boats & stuck 4 whales 1 boat capsized and lost one man, Saml. Watson Jr. of Berlin, New York, aged 23 years. At 7½ took 1 whale to the ship… [there is a watercolor depiction of the boat capsizing with whale behind, and poor Watson Jr.’s casket floating amongst the waves]
• Thursday, Jan. 18, 1844 - …At 4½ P.M. saw whales 5½ lowered 3 boats at Sun Set struck a large whale at 9½ P.M. took him to the ship… At 6 a.m. saw more whales lowered 3 boats at 7½ struck 1 at 9½ took him to the ship at 10 comd. cutting… [this with a lovely watercolor of the ship and two large whales]

• Friday, June 10, 1842 – Begins with fresh gales… Sent a boat on shore at 7 came on board having procured guinea fowls, potatoes and eggs…
• Sunday, October 2, 1842 - …Tacked ship to E. saw a large whale lowered 4 boats in pursuit at 4 came on board whale gone to windward…
• Tuesday, Oct. 25, 1842 - …engaged in cutting at 7 pm finished. Middle part commcd. boiling. At 7 am saw whales to windward tacked ship to the east… Lowered 4 boats and struck one at 12 m. took him to the ship by the starboard boat…
• Thursday Dec. 1, 1842 - …Still in pursuit of the whale at 2 P.M. saw the large one and at 3 saw more whales, lowered 2 boats struck one. At 5 took him to the ship comd. boiling…
• Friday, February 10, 1843 - …at 7 a.m. saw sperm whales at 8 lowered 2 boats at 9 lowered the other 2. 2 boats struck, 2 whales spouting blood so ends...
• Wednesday, March 29, 1843 - …Spoke ship John Adams of Nantucket 19 mos. 300 bbls. [there is a watercolor of the ship]
• Wednesday, Oct. 16, 1843 - …at 2 p.m. saw sperm whales lowered 4 boats strick one at 4 took him along side ship comd. cutting, at 6½ finished and began to boil. At 8 a.m. saw sperm whales lowered 4 boats & struck 2 one man badly cut by an irion…
• Friday Dec. 8, 1843 – Island St. Clara in sight… went into Tumbez [i.e. Tumbes, Peru] let go an anchor…
• Dec. 18, 1843 - …Most of the crew on shore on liberty at 4 p.m. boats came off having got into difficulty on shore. 2 man in calaboose. These last 5 days been engaged in getting wood, water & recruits & painting ship…
• Wednesday, Dec. 27, 1843 - … Stood into Paita Harbour Doctor came alongside landed the passenger, stood out the harbor for the night. Moved part off and on at 12 M. stood into the harbour of Paita. Could not have a communication with the shore having ignorantly laid the ship liable to a fine by going into Tumbez previous of coming here. The authorities here being very desirous that we should anchor, but not feeling disposed we left the harbour & went to sea…
• Tuesday, Feby. 13, 1844 - …At 4½ P.M.  saw sperm whales lowered 3 boats struck 1 and drawed, struck another and at 9 P.M. took him alongside… At daylight saw more whales did not lower as they were ging quickly to windward, Comd. cutting. 2 sails in sight, so ends. Hermigos Islands. [There is a fine quarter page watercolor of a large ship in in the foreground and two small ones in the background, a large whale right in front of the large ship, land in distance to the right – judging from the coordinates given, these islands are off the coast of Peru, near Lima]
• Wednesday, April 17th, 1844- …hove short in order to get under way, found the anchor afoul, streamed the kedge, took the anchor and lost the kedge it being under a rock. At 4 P.M. stood to sea.
• Friday, July 5, 1844 - …At 5 p.m. run down to Post Office Bay [on Floreana Island, nee Charles Island, Galapagos Islands] came to anchor for the purpose of getting wood. Latter part all hands engaged in getting wood. So ends.
• Thursday, July 12, 1844 - …been engaged these last 6½ days in getting wood principally and few recruits, Bananas, Plaintains, corn, fowls, pigs &c. At 1 p.m. took the anchor and stood to sea…
• Wednesday, Oct. 23, 1844 - …stood close in to Cocos Island and sent a raft of casks ashore for water, at 6½ came on board and left the cases on shore… Latter part engaged in filling water…
• Saturday, Nov. 29, 1845 - …at 12½ P.M. saw Block Isle at 2 P.m. took a Pilot for New Bedford… 10 P.M. came to an anchor off Clark’s Point at 11 went on shore. So ends this Voyage.  A.C.C.