Rafael Osona's Annual Auction Catalog 2019 2014 | Page 121

250. RARE AND IMPORTANT 1836 ILLUSTRATED WHALING JOURNAL OF
THE SHIP GOLCONDA, N.B. Wilcox (Master), out of New Bedford May 8, 1836 to the
Pacific Ocean, returning with great success March 26, 1839, written by Francis Harrison.
Extremely rare and most important log with seldom seen 76 ship stamps symbolizing the
sighting of vessels and 320 whale stamps of not only different species, but Harrison hand
carved stamps for varying size whales.
The journal is very legible and in untouched condition, as is the binding. The journal is
now encased in a ¾ gilt leather clam-shell box. Journal Height 11 7/8 in. Width 8 in.;
Dimensions of box: Height 13 in. Width 9 1/8 in. Depth 2 1/2 in.
There are a number of fine quality pencil drawings which leads us to believe that
Harrison must have also scrimshawed pieces along the way. In sequence we find the
following drawings:
• GOLCONDA. CAPE HORN. BEARING. SW
• GOLCONDA. BOUND. TO. OTAHEITE. S.I.
• GOLCONDA. BOUND. ON. A. CRUISE. Whaling
• AN. OLD. WHALING. CAPTAIN. AT. HIS. EASE. I. AFFLUENCE. 1838
• A portrait of Miss Henrietta Brown
• Situation of the Golconda the day after being dismasted
• View of the Golconda when fitted, after being dismasted
• A VIEW UP WALL STREET. N-YORK
• The Buildings that are to be
• CANAL INLAND NAVIGATION
• Starboard of the Golconda under sail
In addition there are:
• Eleven pages of 49 whaling songs, which must have been a welcome pastime from
the sailor’s day to day life threatening endeavors
• List of whales caught on the voyage and the name of the person credited along
with the number of barrels taken from the whales
• List of whales lost by different boats during the voyage
• List of whales caught by each whaleboat during the voyage
• List of vessels seen in port on the voyage and the names of the harbors
• List of vessels spoken on the voyage
• Names of places touched on the voyage
Reference: Starbuck, Alexander, “History of the American Whale Fishery,” Secaucus, NJ: Castle
Books, 1989, p.226, p.567. The Golconda left on her first whaling voyage from New Bedford
May 1818 for Patagonia and returned January 10, 1819. Her final voyage left on October 15, 1859
and was altered from a ship to another rig. She was captured and burned by the Confederate ship
Florida July 8, 1864.

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