Lot
65 
[A round trip letter from Boston to the Sandwich Islands, 1837], and return to Boston. Very lengthy closely written eight page letter written while on board the ship Mary Frazier enroute to the Sandwich Islands by Issac and Emily Bliss between March 9 and April 26, 1837. The ship left Boston December 14, 1836 and arrived off the island of Maui on April 9, 1837 after a remarkable voyage of 117 days. The Mary Frazer sailed for Boston on her return trip April 26, 1837, carrying this letter, which entered the mails with red "Boston, Ms. Aug 21" cds and matching "Ship" handstamp with manuscript "27" cent due rating for 25¢ inland postage plus 2¢ ship fee, then carried overland to Warsaw, Illinois, Fine, A rare early letter. Estimate $1,000 - 1,500.
This ship carried the largest, and seventh, reinforcement sent to the Sandwich Islands by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, often called just the American Board. The letter is similar to a log. Emily gives the date and Latitude and Longitude of each entry. Issac Bliss was one of four ordained missionaries, in all 32, including a physician, school teachers and wives of all, but two single female teachers. The letter notes that the ship was only three days in rounding Cape Horn, which is remarkable. Most ships took several weeks, and Captain Bligh of H.M.S. Bounty fame had to turn eastward, around Africa's Cape of Good Hope, after losing a month long battle with the wind. The return voyage to Boston was made in just 118 days, as opposed to 163 for the pioneer company in 1820. The letter includes a plan of accommodations on board the barque as drawn and detailed by Issac. A full transcript of this very lengthy letter is included with this lot.
Realized: $1,000