AMER WINTER 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Thursday, February 8, 2018.
LETTER BOOK, USS BRANDYWINE, GEORGE WASHINGTON STORER COMMANDING, RIO DE JANEIRO, JULY 13, 1847-JULY 9, 1849.This excellent condition, full leather bound folio, 12-1/2" x 8-1/4", with French wallpaper end sheets. Text concerns the re-supply and equipping of the Brandywine for its Brazil operations where it would cruise for close to 3 years before returning to the US in 1850. There is a tremendous amount of content on the 430 manuscript pages, plus 12-page index plus an additional 20 pages of rules and punishments for sailors.[b] One letter dated September 5, 1848 Storer is investigating a vessel flying an American flag that is involved in the slave trade, and telling captains of other vessels that these vessels can be taken as prizes "You will use every effort to arrest, bring to well merited punishment all persons who on the open seas may disgrace the American flag by making it in anyway subservient to the pursuit and protection of this most nefarious commerce".[/b] There is an interesting signature on the front fly leaf of book which must have been used by the US Ambassador when the Brazilian-American Claims Treaty was signed January 27, 1849. Inscription reads: "David Tod, esquire / Envoy Extraordinary / and Minister Plenipotentiary / of the United States / Rio de Janeiro". Indeed, David Tod was the American representative who signed the claims document along with the Emperor of Brazil. The United States received 530,000 milreis to cover indemnifications against American interests which in dollar equivalents of 1850 was over one million dollars, which today is close to two billion dollars. This ledger must have been used as evidence and then returned to Storer. David Tod was best known to American historians as the effective Civil War governor of Ohio. SIZE: CONDITION: Very good overall. Leather is scuffed, but contents are very good. Signatures tight as are hinges, leather title on spine chipped. Several long cuts and staining on cover. 52737-12 JGS (1,500-3,000)