Anonymous Manuscript Diary (2 results)

Condition: A Very Good Copy. Middle-class women were not expected to write professionally in Victorian / Edwardian times. Diaries however gave these ladies an opportunity to express themselves in print. This fine example is probably part of a series of her output. Diaries of this era were more commonly done by the Upper classes, describing vacation trips and scenery, clippings, chromo litho flora printing and cards, poetry. Full length day to working day diaries are much less common, even rare. 24mo., 13.5cm, circa 200 pages, in manuscript, black ink closely written, fairly legible, in full maroon limp fine grain calf, typical diary type binding of the day, french marbled endpapers and edges, some slight edge wear, rear inner paper over the hinge is broken, (this is common with diaries as they were opened flat and pressed down for writing in), the text is clean and sound ~ all considered.

Condition: fine. Single volume. Sm.4to., 287p. (no blanks), marbled boards with leather spine. Entirely manuscript. Title of first page: "Diary Commencing Sunday Oct 3, 1869 at Colombo, Ceylon". Diary ends April 13, 1873. First 38 pages are very interesting as the diarist describes in fine detail- with frequent touches of dry humor - his adventures as he travels on the Simla Steamship from Colombo, through the Suez Canal, back to London. He mentions that he has taken this trip before. The rest of the diary is written in England, apparently in Southampton and most all entries follow a pattern of first describing the day's weather and then listing ships going in or out, their passengers, and/or their cargo (usually coal, slate or peat). A few personal notes are given but not often. On his way up to the Suez Canal, the Simla stops to pick up coal. Diarist writes: "Aden is very rocky with a dry scorched burnt appearance little or no soil & no vegetation.hot & the glare of the sun exceedingly effecting to the eye." He goes inland to a settlement where he finds "half a dozen of the Simla passengers surrounded by almost two dozen of native trading Jews particularly anxious to pass their wares ostrich eggs and feathers.the din and noise they made baffles description drowning our voices so that we could not hear each other speak.After a quarter of an hour spent in the noisy battling with our salesmen, I became the purchaser of some ostrich feather white and gray." Later in trip the ship's Lieut. Col. Lacy "died suddenly after a few hours illness of heat apoplexy". The next day the ship's chaplain refuses to assist at the funeral services as he believed Lacy brought on his own death by drinking too much. Typical entries once back in London: "January 9, 1872 . Light airs and colam. Reaper sailed at morn.light breeze from NE with rain second case of diptheria reported in Island at Windbreck. Dr. Logic came here on sunday ." "July 3, 1872. Moderate light breeze.Boat off for first load of peats. Simson came in with cargo of slates." From the text is seem likely that the diarist worked either as the Dockmaster or employee of some sort at the Southhampton dock or as an employee of a shipping company located in that area. Some names mentioned in the diary: J. W. Heddle, Capt. James Cromarty, J. W. Laughton and his son John, John Storach and Charles Henry Sparkes. Diarist does say his brother-in-law was Samuel L. Louttie who died unexpectedly on October 22, 1869. Another interesting note is that diarist mentions that "The Bank" began July 15, 1872. Neat and legible. Diary is in near VG condition with no spotting or tears but some light cover wear. Pictures available on request.