c1852 Peter the Whaler Book Arctic & Exploration by Ship

Books : Antique : Peter The Whaler : Whaling : Nautical : Maritime : Ships : 1852

 

Peter the Whaler; His Early Life and Adventures in the Arctic Regions and Other Parts of the World. By William H.G. Kingston, with Illustrations (there are just a few). Published in 1852 by C.S. Francis & Co, 252 Broadway, New York & J.H. Francis, 128 Washington St. Boston. It is a hard cover with cloth covers highlighted in gilt gold along with gilt page edges. The book measures 6 7/8" x 4 3/4" and has 389 pages. The back cover has a split along the spine. The book is in good condition for its age. It is perfectly readable.

An excerpt from the preface is as follows "...The incidents were narrated to me by a young gentleman, the original of Peter Lefroy, who is, in every respect, a real character: and although many years have passed since he told me the story, his extraordinary adventures made so deep an impression on me that they were still fresh on my memory when I commenced the work.

A random selection of the contents includes:

I go on board the Black Swan (ship) and offer to make myself useful; but my services are not appreciated

The embarkation of Emigrants for America

Description of a North American Emigrant Ship

Am treated as a mutineer

A Ship on fire

Our Captain deserts us

A true sailor will not desert his ship till the last

A few are saved but a bitter disappointment awaits the rest

Journey through the Western States (in the US)

New Orleans Sail for the Havana

I find that a romantic pirate and a real pirate are very different persons

I take the oath of the pirates

Find ourselves suddenly transferred to the deck of a Brig of War

The end of the Foam (A Ship)

Sail in the Pocahontas for the North Seas

A Man overboard, how to behave in the water

The ship strikes an iceberg- Goes Down

A night on the iceberg The whale ship, I join her

A Visit from father Neptune We secure our fish (A Whale)- How to carve a Whale

Preparations for a Nip Pond's Bay- A run of whales

An account of some Arctic Explorations in search of Sir John Franklin and his brave companions

Summer drawing to a close, Homeward Voyage

Left on the ice- Our ship disappears, we are in a bad plight

The floe separates, Catch two Unicorns

A wreck discovered We find treasures on board

Visited by the Esquimaux at their tents- Description of sledges and dogs

Tom Stokes sees a Merman

An Arctic Night Purpose to build a Vessel

We complete our vessel- voyage-wreck- Reach my fathers home a beggar-No one Home.

The book would make a great addition to an antique Nautical or Maritime collection. It is interesting and easy to read.

Item ID: 001572