Thursday, January 21, 2010

The Good Ship Providence


In honor of Lovecraft's love of "Providence", "England" and the 18th century ... here is an image of an authentic sea captian's letter of the good ship Providence. No word on whether it was a "white ship".
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Description provided by seller:
Papers of the ship Providence, England and New York, 1779-1783. A collection of letters and receipts relating to the transport ship Providence and her master, Captain John Ritchie, including 11 autograph letters signed by Ritchie himself describing voyages to New York and the West Indies, the expenses and difficulties encountered, and about 120 receipts for seamen’s pay and the ship’s supplies (including about 60 from New York, Staten Island, Long Island, Tybee Island, Charlestown). 200 original letters (with address leaves), bills, and receipts, folded, in good clean condition, legible. 1779-1783, with a few later legal papers. Captain John Ritchie was the Master of the ship Providence, a British ship under contract with the Navy Board to transport troops to America. This correspondence was received by lawyers in Newcastle representing the ship’s owner, Captain Samuel Burleigh, explaining the expenses incurred by Captain Ritchie. The collection comprises 11 ALS by Ritchie; 58 other original letters from London agents about the voyages of the Providence; about 60 original receipts for pilotage, coals, fresh beef, rum, ship repairs, wages, etc., all signed in New York or other American ports; about 60 other receipts, signed in England, Bremen and the River Weser, or in Jamaica, for similar expenses; a few miscellaneous papers, including including an attractive engraved billhead of Simpson & Birkley, Oilmen, Painting, Colourmen & Ship Chandlers, At the Ship near King James’s Stairs (June 1779).

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