Miscellaneous

Lot 3873A    SESSION 19 (4.30PM FRIDAY 1ST APRIL)    Miscellaneous

Estimate $1,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $2,200

SCRIMSHAW ON SPERM WHALE TOOTH FROM THE ENCOUNTER WITH THE ESSEX. Dimension 14.5cm by 5cm "The loss of the Essex Nov 20th 1820" on one side and the image of the Sperm Whale attacking the Essex on the other. Taken from "Shackleton's Voyage by Donald Barr CHIDSEY, Tandem Books 1967. November 20th 1820 in the Pacific three of the four whale boats of the Essex of Nantucket put out to harpoon whales. One of the boats was badly damaged by a tail-swipe and turned back to the ship. The ship itself was then attacked head-on by an infuriated 85 foot Sperm Whale, which charged it twice at great speed and made two gaping holes in the hull. The ship started to sink. In a matter of minutes the men aboard got the fourth launched under the command of the mate Owen Chase. The other two boats returning from the chase with the Captain and nineteen crewmen got what littlesupplies off the Essex - 600lbs of bread and 65 gallons of water - before she sunk utterly. They then started for the mainland more than 1000 miles away. They had navigating instruments and eventually made it, though their sufferings were acute. The incident is notable because it gave Hermann Melville the idea for "Moby Dick". He undoubtedly read Chase's thrilling first hand report.