Logbook of the ship Australia of Salem, MA on a journey from New York to Sumatra and back.

At Sea. Jan-Dec 1859, Folio, contemporary half calf, original sailcloth binding, signs of use at sea,[ pp 260], includes page of hand-coloured signal flags, leaf with mounted flying fish wings, 32 pages on the Spanish-American War kept by Dodge’s daughter (mostly clippings, some in colour).

The log keeper, Antipas Dodge (1842-1867), was a lifelong resident of Beverly, MA. His log is mainly concerned with the rigours of life at sea, and the technical aspects of sail deployment. The ship reached Rigaih, Sumatra on 3 May, and the journal resumed on 23 August. An interesting juxtaposition of old and new communication technology can be seen in this entry: “Signalized an English ship . . . bound to Mobile. She reports the Atlantic telegraph a failure” (5 December 1859). On 16 December, Dodge’s ship was re-supplied by an English barque they met which was short of provisions. Dodge died eight years later in Mauritius, working as a supercargo on a French ship.