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Logbook of the Brig John Gilpin: Baltimore to Canton, 1832–1841
$2,000
£1,508.52
€1,742.35
CA$2,802.14
A$3,115.82
CHF 1,631.19
MX$38,060.28
NOK 20,497.46
SEK 19,281.97
DKK 13,006.54
About the Item
A rare and highly detailed early 19th-century maritime logbook chronicling the voyages of the American merchant brig John Gilpin, based out of Baltimore, Maryland, operating between the United States and Canton (Guangzhou), China. Spanning nearly a decade, from May 1832 through December 1841, this handwritten volume comprises 19 pages of meticulously recorded entries documenting courses, latitudes, longitudes, prevailing winds, navigational notes, and weather conditions, maintained by the ship’s officers over a series of East and West-bound transoceanic passages.
The first entries begin with a dated record: “Journal of Brig John Gilpin, Baltimore to Canton. Left Cape Henry May 20th, 1832,” followed by daily entries across longitudinal progression. Each row includes date, latitude, longitude, course, wind direction, and supplemental remarks—e.g., “Saw a quantity of Gulf weed… sharks,” or notes on trade winds, shifting currents, or passing sails. These notations provide insight not only into the vessel’s navigation but also into environmental observations and maritime culture of the period.
Further back in the volume appears an extraordinary aggregation: “Aggregate of Brig John Gilpin’s passages”, which functions as a summary index for over 20 passages between Baltimore, Canton, Manila, and other global ports from 1832 through 1841. Each voyage is listed by departure and arrival date, port of call, and duration in days—demonstrating the cyclical and global scope of American trade during the Canton System and the height of the China Trade era.
Bound in period blue-green linen over board with leather spine (heavily worn), the logbook’s interior exhibits expected signs of wear from use at sea, including chipped edges, foxing, and minor loss to margins—though the handwriting remains entirely legible in sepia ink throughout. The consistent hand, and the neat tabular structure of the navigational data, suggest the work of a ship’s first officer or navigator well-versed in transoceanic recordkeeping.
This manuscript provides a rare primary-source glimpse into early American maritime commerce, navigation, and the practical rhythms of long-distance mercantile voyages during the pre-Opium War era. It is especially significant for its references to ports in China and Southeast Asia, making it a valuable document for scholars of 19th-century American-Chinese trade relations.
- Dimensions:Height: 10.125 in (25.72 cm)Width: 12.875 in (32.71 cm)Depth: 0.25 in (6.35 mm)
- Style:American Colonial (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:C. 1832-1841
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Book shows its age. Damage to binding and covers - Pages with areas of loss.
- Seller Location:Atlanta, GA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU7838246473692

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