Maritime
Shipwreck With Engraving Of A Circumcision
1833, Book, "Authentic Narrative of the Loss of the American Brig Commerce," by Capt. James Riley, illustrated with wonderful engravings, including one showing a Jewish circumcision ceremony, Very Fine.
Full title: "Authentic Narrative of the Loss of the American Brig Commerce, Wrecked on the Western Coast of Africa, in the Month of August, 1815, With an Account of the Sufferings of the Surviving Officers and Crew, who were Enslaved by the Wandering Arabs, on the African Desart (sic) or Zahahrah [Sahara]," by Capt. James Riley, revised by the author in 1828, published by Andrus & Judd, Hartford, CT, 271 pages, 8.75" x 5.25", maroon hard cover with marbled end papers and inside covers, with 10 copper plate engravings. The book is complete and intact, though the front cover is beginning to detach. The binding is tight and the pages are in good shape with only light foxing. The corners and edges of the covers show heavy wear. Among the plates in this book, the most unusual is Plate 8 which shows a scene of the Jewish Circumcision ceremony as practiced in Mogadore (Morocco). Other plates include a portrait of the author (with a small hole), the wreck of the Commerce, capture of the Americans by Moors, an Arab tent, a view of the port of Mogadore, and a full page drawing of a locust. Plate 10 (the map) is missing. Includes a brief sketch of Riley's life, a description of the city Timbuktu on the river Niger, and of the town of Rassanah. A scarce and very interesting book.
RILEY, James Riley (1777-1840), was born in Middletown, Connecticut and became a sailor at the age of fifteen. He soon became captain of a vessel, and in 1808 commanded the "Two Marys" which was seized and confiscated by the French. In April, 1815, he sailed from Hartford in the brig "Commerce." While sailing from Gibraltar to the Cape Verde Islands, he was shipwrecked on the coast of north Africa in August, 1815. He was kept as a slave by the Arabs for 18 months, and suffered such hardships and cruelties that his weight fell from 240 to 60 pounds. He was finally ransomed, with his companions by the British consul at Mogadore, whom the United States government reimbursed during the presidency of James Monroe. Riley settled in Van Weft county, Ohio in 1821, where he founded the town of Willshire, and in 1823 was elected to the legislature. In 1831 he returned to a seafaring life, and traded between Mogadore and American ports until his death. During his last visit to Morocco he received from the Ottoman emperor a license to trade at north African seaports which was more favorable than any that had previously been granted to a westerner. In 1997 the Mercer County Historical Society published a biography of Riley titled: "Ohio's Last Frontiersman: Connecticut Mariner Captain James Riley.
Shipwreck With Engraving Of A Circumcision
1833, Book, "Authentic Narrative of the Loss of the American Brig Commerce," by Capt. James Riley, illustrated with wonderful engravings, including one showing a Jewish circumcision ceremony, Very Fine.
Full title: "Authentic Narrative of the Loss of the American Brig Commerce, Wrecked on the Western Coast of Africa, in the Month of August, 1815, With an Account of the Sufferings of the Surviving Officers and Crew, who were Enslaved by the Wandering Arabs, on the African Desart (sic) or Zahahrah [Sahara]," by Capt. James Riley, revised by the author in 1828, published by Andrus & Judd, Hartford, CT, 271 pages, 8.75" x 5.25", maroon hard cover with marbled end papers and inside covers, with 10 copper plate engravings. The book is complete and intact, though the front cover is beginning to detach. The binding is tight and the pages are in good shape with only light foxing. The corners and edges of the covers show heavy wear. Among the plates in this book, the most unusual is Plate 8 which shows a scene of the Jewish Circumcision ceremony as practiced in Mogadore (Morocco). Other plates include a portrait of the author (with a small hole), the wreck of the Commerce, capture of the Americans by Moors, an Arab tent, a view of the port of Mogadore, and a full page drawing of a locust. Plate 10 (the map) is missing. Includes a brief sketch of Riley's life, a description of the city Timbuktu on the river Niger, and of the town of Rassanah. A scarce and very interesting book.
RILEY, James Riley (1777-1840), was born in Middletown, Connecticut and became a sailor at the age of fifteen. He soon became captain of a vessel, and in 1808 commanded the "Two Marys" which was seized and confiscated by the French. In April, 1815, he sailed from Hartford in the brig "Commerce." While sailing from Gibraltar to the Cape Verde Islands, he was shipwrecked on the coast of north Africa in August, 1815. He was kept as a slave by the Arabs for 18 months, and suffered such hardships and cruelties that his weight fell from 240 to 60 pounds. He was finally ransomed, with his companions by the British consul at Mogadore, whom the United States government reimbursed during the presidency of James Monroe. Riley settled in Van Weft county, Ohio in 1821, where he founded the town of Willshire, and in 1823 was elected to the legislature. In 1831 he returned to a seafaring life, and traded between Mogadore and American ports until his death. During his last visit to Morocco he received from the Ottoman emperor a license to trade at north African seaports which was more favorable than any that had previously been granted to a westerner. In 1997 the Mercer County Historical Society published a biography of Riley titled: "Ohio's Last Frontiersman: Connecticut Mariner Captain James Riley.
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Auction details
Coins-Currency-Autographs-Americana
9:00 AM PT - May 15th, 2008
offered by
Early American
P.O. Box 3507
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067
