New Zealand. Account of a Voyage from Gravesend to Auckland,...

Hammer

£120

New Zealand. Account of a Voyage from Gravesend to Auckland, 1881-1882, probably chronicled by William Bennett (b. 1836), formerly of Pinchbeck, Lincolnshire, [73]ff of pencil MS, [9]ff excised from the rear, having taken leave of his friends the author departs for Gravesend, via the Spalding train to London, while in the capital for a few days he and his mother played the tourist, 'to Madam Tussauds + saw collection of waxworks in which I did not feel very much interested', 'went into a Barbers [...] and had a 'Clip' Shampoo + Shave. Going a bit further I had 2 teeth broken + the nerves destroyed so as to prevent the tooth-ache. We then proceeded to the Monument of London + went to the top of it', Crystal Palace, Alexander Palace for an organ recital, 'to the British Museum. After going over various parts we went into the Jewel Room where there is a policeman + waiter. The 'Bobby' was very communicative + gave us a deal of information respecting the different jewels. Amongst them is one called the Duke of Portland's Vase [...]. The P.C. was so very civil and obliging that I have him 6d. [On returning to their rooms, via the Foundling Hospital they] 'had a "Siesta" (i.e. an afternoon sleep)'. Having departed for NZ on the SS Lusitania ('a noble looking vessel') the Channel crossing was 'very rough + many of the passengers are still very green'. Eventually having reached the Bay of Naples, at 5.30am 'a great many people were stirring in order to see the reflection of Mt. Vesuvius' before going ashore to Naples. The voyage was far from pleasant sailing, with inclement weather and recorded fights in steerage, but there are numerous nautical observations and descriptions of a raffle, further amusements, food and life onboard, before disembarking at Melbourne for a few days, - even noting having bought a violin book (for the author fiddles, mentioning it several times in places), - before the final leg, on a different vessel to Auckland, NZ, some leaves with lists and further notes, contemporary black faux leather ruled notebook, split with some movement, oblong 8vo, along with a 20th c manuscript transcript, the pastedown acting as a preface: I salvaged a notebook, rejected by a charity shop, in 1986. I have now transposed its entire contents, without alteration, in order to make it more easily readable, wrappers, 4to, loosely-inserted ephemera, including a defective copy of a Pinchbeck baptismal certificate for a Bennett, dated May 1st 1836, the same parish from which our author sets out etc., and an unassociated early 20th c friendship album, Elsie Kirk, February 27th 1909, partially-inscribed with typical sentiment, one leaf illustrated with a still life watercolour of a poppy, contemporary black calf, rubbed, all edges gilt, foliate endpapers, 8vo, (3)