Ocean Life in Old Sailing-Ship Days: From Forecastle to Quarter Deck

Boston: Little, Brown and Co, 1909. Octavo. Inscribed by the author dated April 21st, 1909. Inscribed by the author dated April 21st, 1909. 314 pages. John D. Whidden started out at sea in 1834, at the age of twelve, and did not retire until 1870. His memoir was written to give a sense of the days before the rise of the steam powered ship. Orphaned at five, nothing held Whidden back from embarking on sea life seven years later. Serving as an apprentice, he quickly proved his worth, and earned himself a mate's position by his early twenties. Graduating to third, second, and first officer, he ended his career in command of, and having part-ownership of (truncated) his own vessel. Bound in dark blue cloth lettered in white stamped in gilt, spine lettering gilt, just a bit of rubbing to spine ends and corners. Near fine. (Inventory #: 029183)