Beschreibung:

JOURNAL OF A VOYAGE TO CALIFORNIA – Manuscript journal entitled on the first page, "John E. Randall Privet [sic] Journal on Board ship Star of the Union," sailing from New York to San Francisco to the Chincha Islands, 13 June - 24 December 1854. 71 pages, 334 x 205mm, bound in marbled boards (mild dampstains to inside front cover and the first few pages, binding loose). A log of a sea voyage from New York to San Francisco via Cape Horn in the first years of the California Gold Rush. A lengthy and detailed journal kept by a crew member of the crew of the Star of the Union detailing its departure from New York (14 June) and the several-month journey around South America to the Port of San Francisco (arriving 13 October). Passing around Cape Horn in the Southern Hemisphere's late winter, the journalist takes a profile sketch of what he describes as "the most dreary looking piece of land I ever Saw in my life." While docked in San Francisco, Randall records discord between the crew and the captain over pay and records his displeasure with the city: "This evening [Tuesday 16 October] I went up in company with the 4rd mate to Se[e] the Fushions[?] I could not Se[e] aney [sic] diffarence [sic] in the moral character of the place than when I was here before at 10 P.M. I came on board disgusted with the place and everything I saw." Although he contemplated never leaving the ship again, a visit from a Mr. Sherman, and "a long talk with him about home," changed his feelings and he accepted an invitation to dine with him "at his ranch" the following Sunday. At midday dinner, Randall was treated to a meal of "Corned beef & vegatables [sic] of all Sorts & kinds" in Sherman's three room house about two miles from the waterfront. Upon departing San Francisco, they sailed in company with the "clipper ship Mary Robinson of new Bedford bound for Callao," adding that "we shall Se[e] one of these days who gets there farst [sic] we will have to look at her with a jealous eye…" The log continues, documenting their voyage south toward Peru and ends abruptly off the coast near the Chincha Islands. Provenance: James Augustine Farrell (bookplate). — India House is bound by every tradition with the adventurers of all ages who went down to the sea in ships. Christie’s is honored to sell the art collection of India House, a private club that has been a fixture of downtown Manhattan since the early twentieth century. The Club’s Renaissance style building was constructed by builder Richard Carman after the fire of 1835 and, previously housing Hanover Bank, Maitland and Company, the New York Cotton Exchange and W.R. Grace and Company, the edifice has remained essentially unchanged since its construction. Founded in 1914 by James A. Farrell and Willard Straight, India House was conceived as a meeting place for the interests for foreign trade and its name paid homage to the Dutch West India Company, the first colonizers of Manhattan. Farrell and Straight envisioned that “New York should have a place, maritime in spirit, purpose and atmosphere, where those interested in rebuilding a merchant marine worthy of American could meet.” In this vein, many leaders in foreign trade and worldwide commerce have since gathered at India House, including Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Hopkins, Henry Morgenthau, Jr., James Byrnes, W. Averell Harriman, George C. Marshall, Henry Cabot Lodge and Cyrus Vance. Their meetings were held alongside India House’s world-class collection of maritime art and objects. First begun by Dorothy Whitney and Willard Straight, the art collection grew to encompass marine pictures, model ships, maritime relics and Chinese works of art, which gave the club its stately atmosphere and reminded members and guests of its purpose. For more information, see A Descriptive Catalogue of the Marine Collection to be Found at India House (New York, 1935). Please note this lot is the property of a private individual.