Lot 1763

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Description:

JOHN TYLER
1790 - 1862) Tenth President of the United States following the death of Harrison, annexed Texas, and remained loyal to Virginia following its secession. TYLER ISSUES A PASSPORT FOR A FUTURE PIRATE SHIP. Partly-printed D.S. as President, 1p. 20.5 x 16 in., Washington D.C., May 18, 1842, a passport document for the whaling ship ‘George Howland', printed in English, French, Spanish, and Dutch, sailing from New Bedford to the ‘Pacific Ocean' and captained by Aaron C. Cushing, noting that the ship contains 'Provisions, stores, and utensils for a whaling voyage.' Boldly signed by Tyler at the center, cosigned by his Secretary of State DANIEL WEBSTER (1782-1852) and a public notary. Creased with light edge wear and a few scattered stains. Matted and framed in a nice display. The George Howland had an interesting history of its own. Years later, while on another voyage to the Pacific Ocean, the ship was docked in the Galapagos Islands near a convict colony. Prisoners of the colony had revolted and taken control of the prison, and when they spied the ship in the harbor, they overcame her crew members. The vessel was painted black and used for pirate activities up and down the South American coast before finally being approached by a Swedish warship. The sight of this ship caused the pirate crew to take to their lifeboats and flee from the opposite side of their ship. When Swedish officers came aboard, they found only one man, the cook from the original crew of the Howland, hiding in the hold. His presence prevented the George Howland from becoming a prize forfeit to the Swedish man-o-war, and it would eventually be returned to its owners in New Bedford. It would spend a few more years on the seas before finally sinking in an expedition to the Arctic in 1871.

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December 9, 2021 10:00 AM EST
Chesapeake City, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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