Some Recollections by Captain Charles P. Low; Commanding the Clipper Ships "Houqua," "Jacob Bell," "Samuel Russell." and " N. B. Palmer," in the China Trade 1847-1873

The format is approximately 5.75 inches by 8 inches. [8], 179, [1] pages. Rare surviving copy. Frontispiece illustrations. The cover has some wear (especially at the edges) and soiling. It has gilt lettering. There is an edge tear on the last page. Rear hinge has some weakness. Charles Porter Low (1824-?)was born in Salem, Massachusetts; moved with his family to Brooklyn, New York; was a sailor in his youth; worked his way up to ship’s captain; captain of clipper ship N. B. Palmer in 1854; subsequently chosen commodore of American merchant ships in China by his fellow captains. Houqua was an early clipper ship with an innovative hull design, built for A. A. Low & Brother in 1844. She sailed in the China trade. Houqua was named in honor of the Canton Hong merchant Houqua, a longtime trading partner of the Low brothers who had died the year before the ship's launching. Houqua was the most prominent Hong merchant of the day. "Some Recollections" is a memoir written by Captain Charles P. Low, who commanded several clipper ships in the China trade between the years 1847 and 1873. The book provides a detailed account of Low's experiences as a sailor and captain during this time period, including his voyages to China, interactions with Chinese traders and officials, and the challenges he faced navigating the treacherous waters of the South China Sea. Low also shares his personal reflections on life at sea, the camaraderie among sailors, and the impact of technological advancements on the shipping industry. This book offers a fascinating glimpse into the world of 19th century maritime trade and the adventures of a skilled sailor and captain. A clipper was a type of mid-19th-century merchant sailing vessel, designed for speed. The term was also retrospectively applied to the Baltimore clipper, which originated in the late 18th century. Clippers were generally narrow for their length, small by later 19th-century standards, could carry limited bulk freight, and had a large total sail area. "Clipper" does not refer to a specific sailplan; clippers may be schooners, brigs, brigantines, etc., as well as full-rigged ships. Clippers were mostly constructed in British and American shipyards, although France, Brazil, the Netherlands, and other nations also produced some. Clippers sailed all over the world, primarily on the trade routes between the United Kingdom and China, in transatlantic trade, and on the New York-to-San Francisco route around Cape Horn during the California gold rush. Dutch clippers were built beginning in the 1850s for the tea trade and passenger service to Java. The boom years of the clipper era began in 1843 in response to a growing demand for faster delivery of tea from China and continued with the demand for swift passage to gold fields in California and Australia beginning in 1848 and 1851, respectively. The era ended with the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. Second Edition [stated]. Presumed first printing thus. …