19. Yachting & Racing

19.70  YACHT LOG.  Absolutely pristine speed and distance log identified as “Walker’s  “Excelsior” IV Ship Log” on the inner and outer labels and on the dial.  This handsome, state-of-the-art mechanical instrument is of all brass construction.  The hard-fired white porcelain register dial reads “Walker’s EXCELSIOR IV LOG, MADE IN ENGLAND BY THOS. WALKER & SON. LTD. BIRMINGHAM.”  It features an outer scale marked in “NAUTICAL MILES” from 0 – 100 in 10’s, subdivided by 5’s.  The subsidiary dial is divided from 0 -10 “MILES” subdivided by quarter miles.  Indications are made by 2 blackened brass hands sweeping over the dial which has a glazed, hinged cover secured by a knurled thumbscrew.  The register has a heavy brass flywheel painted red with a center eyelet for attaching the line to the rotor.   To these ends the brass rotor (also known as the “fish”) has four fins, each marked “T.W. EXCELSIOR” with the firm’s anchor trademark.   It is attached to several fathoms of original braided cotton line having a lead weight.  The register is complete with its original pivoting bracket and “shoe” marked “PORT” and “AFT” for mounting to the vessel.  It even retains a hand-held brass-tipped oiler!  The entire unit is contained in its original machine dove-tailed pine box with brass hinges and hook closures.  The lid contains the original signed label reading (in part) “Walker’s “Excelsior” IV Patent Log For Yachts, Motor Launches, and Fishing Craft.”  Also included are 3 tables printed on stiff cardboard.  The first is titled, “Speed Table for use with Walker’s Excelsior IV log.”  The second is titled, “Graph of recommended length of line to be streamed with Excelsior Log.”  The third is entitled, “Time and Knot Table” and “Table of Nautical and Statue Miles.”  The perfect porcelain dial measures 2 ¼ inches in diameter and the register is 6 ¼ inches long.  The box measures 15 by 7 ¼ by 6 inches.  This unit has obviously never been used!  As such it must be rated as being in “factory new” condition.  Price Request

19.41 YACHT BOOK. Bill Robinson, "Legendary Yachts, The Great American yachts from Cleopatra's Barge to Courageous," 1978, David McKay Co., New York, 306 pages, hard cover with dust jacket. The title tells it all. This book, written by the former editor of "Yachting Magazine," is a comprehensive treatment of yachts in America begining with the Salem-built CLEOPATRA'S BARGE in 1816 through such names as AMERICA and CORSAIR, ending with Ted Turner's America's Cup winnerCOURAGEOUS in 1977. Copiously illustrated. Mint condition. 69

8.60/19.87  MOUNTED YACHT BELL.   Unusual, nice authentic yachting trophy in the form of a solid brass ship’s bell.  The engraved inscription of the front reads (in part) “HILL 1966-1976 Block Island Plus Ten.”  The bell measures 8 inches in diameter and 4 ½ inches high.  It is supported on its original swan’s neck bracket with acorn finial.  The removable brackets fits within a v-shaped “shoe” mounted to a sculpted mahogany backboard.  As mounted the entire presentation measures 111 inches wide by 6 ¾ inches high and extends 9 ¼ inches form the bulkhead.  The original brass clapper (ringer) produces a loud, clear tone when rung.  179

Block Island, located 13 miles due south of the coast of Rhode Island and northeast of Long Island has an American maritime heritage dating back before colonial times.  Sparsely inhabited and with a lovely protective harbor, it has charmed New England boaters for centuries.

3.16/19.87 YACHT TAFFRAIL LOG. An amazing find! Late 19th century American patent log for small vessels made by the venerable nautical firm of Negus, New York. What is particularly remarkable about this set is its mint, UNUSED condition in the original box with instructions! The lovely instrument has a porcelain dial within its glazed brass housing. The dial is signed“ NEGUS PATENT LOG” and is calibrated on the periphery from 0 – 50 miles in one mile increments, marked by 5’s. The subsidiary dial at the bottom indicates tenths of miles. The log itself is equipped with a large brass bail handle and terminates in a free wheeling governor to which the log line and lead are attached. The “fish” (rotator) is solid brass and is marked “NEGUS M.” It is attached to approximately 10 fathoms of original cotton line. All of this is contained within the original cardboard box with interior “Directions” in the lid and outer decorative label reading “NEGUS PATENT LOG.” It is complete with its rarely-found separate instruction sheet entitled “HOW TO USE.” The box measures 10 inches long by 3 5/8 inches wide and 3 ¾ inches high. Condition of the contents is superb – factory new. The box shows signs of normal wear expected of an object over 100 years old. 595

19.85  YACHTING TROPHY.  Extremely nice early 1900’s yachting trophy in the form a classic fluted cup with decorated lip.  Applied to the front is the cloisonné burgee of the San Diego Yacht Club encircled by a rope border.  The bottom of the cup is marked “(W STERLING NH1-1.”  3 inches high by 2 ½ inches wide.  No presentation.  Perfect original condition.  195

19.84  YACHT RACE TROPHY.   Lovely hand-made sterling silver loving cup.  The outer bowl of the cup is beautifully engraved with the inscription:

“SAN DIEGO
YACHT CLUB
TROPHY
Schooner Yawles & Ketches
Under 45 Ft. O.A.
Won By
“MINERAVA “
Capt. L. M. Charles
Sept. 12, 1924”

The bottom of the cup is signed “JESSOP Sterling.”
The reverse features a boldly-engraved “SAN DIEGO. CALIFORNIA.” inscription above a medallion of the “Pacific Coast Yachting Association * Championship Regatta* 1924.”  This handsome presentation stands 8 ½ inches tall, 3 3/8 inches in diameter at the base and 4 ¼ inches wide at the lip.  It contains a full 11 ounces of pure silver.  Perfect original condition and 94 years old! 495

19.82   IMPORTANT YACHT PHOTO.   Late 1800’s albumen photograph of the one and only American side wheel steam yacht, identified as the steam/sail CLERMONT underway in the midst of an America’s Cup race melee. This classic, well documented original photograph depicts the handsome yacht from a port side perspective in the foreground underway on steam amidst a sea of large and small spectator vessels craft intent on viewing the America’ Cup race.  It old fashioned rocking beam engine is clearly visible as it emits a puff of steam.  Another large side wheel excursion vessel is visible just behind CLERMONT, as are numerous details under magnification.  The lovely vessel with raked funnel and masts flying pennants, has a decorative paddle box cover.  She clearly flies the American ensign from the stern.  This original photograph is identified lower left “821 CLERMONT” and is attributed to Henry Peabody.  The image measures 7 by 9 inches and is matted under old wavy glass 9 ½ by 11 ½ inches sight.  It is house in its original ornate oak frame with floral elements measuring 13 12/ by 15 ½ inches overall.  Outstanding original condition.  Ready to hang.  389

A photocopied image of another period photograph of the CLERMONT accompanies this offering.  It depicts the yacht from the starboard beam at anchor.  The accompanying caption reads, “Unmounted albumen photo by Henry Peabody… the image is marked 821 Clermont in the lower left.  The 160’ Clermont was built and launched in Greenport N.Y. in 1892, designed by A. van Santvoord and built by H. Lawrence.”

Our research indicates this scene was photographed during the 9th running of the America’s Cup yacht races held off Sandy Hook, New Jersey in 1893.  America’s defender and ultimate winner, VIGILANT, defeated the English challenger VALKYRIE II in three successive races.  Other period images of the race clearly show the defender with luff sails under cloudless skies amidst a throng of steam-powered vessels.

Henry Greenwood Peabody (1855-1951) was a photographer, lecturer and publisher of educational slides and films.  He worked in virtually every photographic medium, lectured and published books that pictured the landscapes and scenery in which he specialized. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Peabody attended college in New England and graduated in 1876.  While a senior at Dartmouth he became interested in photography, producing views of the campus and scenes along the coast. First employed in Chicago, Peabody relocated to Boston where he opened a studio in 1886.  He specialized in marine, landscape and architectural photography and served as the official photographer for the Boston and Maine Railroad and the Great Northern Railway.  He photographed the America's Cup races and published "Representative American Yachts and The Coast of Maine."  In 1898 he accepted a position with the Detroit Publishing Company, the largest postcard publisher in the United States.  From 1900 to 1908, he served as field photographer on both the east and west coasts.   From 1910 to the end of his career, Peabody produced photographs and slides of American landscapes which focused on national parks in the American West. He also gave illustrated lectures covering the Grand Canyon, California Missions, Yosemite and Mexico.  By the early 1930s, he was making audio recordings synchronized with his slide shows.  He died at his home in Glendora, California, at age 96.  He was a charter member of The Photographers Association of America,  Boston Camera Club,  Atlantic Yacht Club of New York, Corinthian Yacht Club of Marblehead, Massachusetts,  Appalachian Mountain Club, "Sons of the Revolution," Technology Society of Architects, and was awarded six first prize medals for photographic by  Photographers Association of America.
Sources: Huntington Library,  Getty Union List of Artist Names,  Joan Campbell "Finding Aid to the Henry G. Peabody Collection," 1982.

Henry G. Peabody's distinguished career as a professional photographer began in Boston in the 1880s, when he specialized in marine views. Peabody and Nathaniel L. Stebbins photographed the same races in the early 1890s,although Peabody's work is considered to have a somewhat more artistic quality. Only a few institutions are known to possess sizable numbers of Peabody's marine views. These include: the Peabody-Essex Museum of Salem, Massachusetts; the Library of Congress and the Historic New England Society.