Previous image preload Next image preload
Back to catalog
Lot 340
image_0 image_1 image_2 image_3 image_4 image_5 image_6 image_7 image_8
4 Newspaper Issues Reporting on The Gloucester Sea Serpent, 1819
4 Newspaper Issues Reporting on The Gloucester Sea Serpent, 1819
image_0 image_1 image_2 image_3 image_4 image_5 image_6 image_7 image_8
Description:

4 Newspaper Issues Reporting on The Gloucester Sea Serpent, 1819

Four issues of the "Independent Chronicle & Boston Patriot" newspaper featuring numerous reports of the sighting of a mysterious creature. Each paper is 4pp of a bifolium, measuring 15" x 21.25", Boston, dated August 25, August 28, September 1, and September 4, 1819. Published by Ballard & Wright. At the top of each paper is the name of the subscriber, "G. Tharp." Each issue contains reports of a "Sea Serpent" swimming near Nahant, along with other news of the time, including pirates, trade with India, a tornado, and international events. Each with flattened folds, light creasing, and rough edged. Light, uneven toning, soiling, and foxing throughout. Overall, very good. Please refer to the photograph for further condition information.

August 25, 1819, Volume LI, No. 4000: "No Editor in our sister cities seems to be more ready to make himself merry at the expense of Yankee credulity respecting the Sea Serpent, than Mr. Lang, of the New-York Gazette…he thinks it necessary to introduce a wise, or a witty note to signify, (as if it signified anything,) his disbelief of the tale. Once, he says, he or his partner, in a boat, mistook a loop-pole for a log - and it is not unusual with him to make even greater blunders, since it is a more striking mark of folly not to believe a fact upon undisputed, credible testimony, than to believe something to be true upon slight evidence. We have conversed with several gentlemen of great intelligence, accuracy of observation and undoubted veracity, eye witness of the same thing…One gentleman, on Saturday last…was in his gig, proceeded from Nahant over the great Lynn beach, when his attention was arrested by a collection of persons on the shore…on looking towards the sea saw as he at first supposed a horses' head out of water, the animal swimming in a line parallel with his progress. But he soon perceived something unusual in his motion - and was presently satisfied the object he saw was the supposed Sea Serpent…The head he satisfied himself perfectly was shaped like that of a snake - apparently quite broad, and making rather a curved line inwards towards the throat. His length became then the next point to be considered…from the head to the last protuberance upon his back. These bunches were sometimes few, and very wide apart and suddenly would rise into full view - whether the animal was proceeding slowly through the water or not…The question whether the protuberances that he exhibits are the flexures of the body produced by motion - or the actual form of the back (though we incline to the latter opinion) is yet undecided; but the main object now in view is to convince the world of the existence of a strange animal or fish of great length, hitherto unknown to naturalists…"

August 28, 1819, Volume LI, No. 4001: "The Boston papers continue to publish Bulletins of the appearance of this visitor, (we can hardly, at this day, say stranger) in our waters…He still made his appearance, at the last accounts, near Lynn Beach, and off the point of Nahant…Some unbelieving THOMASES are resolved to give no heed to the evidence, unless they can put their very hands on the Serpent's bunches. On the other hand, our Boston neighbours are most indignant at this pertinacious infidelity; - and seem ready to swear, that Serpents, in future, may appear a league long, and as big as the great Pyramid of Egypt…We hope before the last appearance for this season, of this interesting performer, some intrepid fisherman will secure him, for their own benefit; and turn the laugh upon the Southern nonbelievers…"

September 1, 1819, Volume LI, No. 4002: "We published the following letter from Cheever Felch, Esq. of the U.S. navy…Being on this station, in the U.S. schr. Science, for the purpose of surveying this harbor, we were proceeding this morning down the harbor in the schooner's boat; when abreast of Dolliver's Neck, Wm. T. Malbone, Esq. commander of the schooner, seeing some appearance on the water, said - 'there is your Sea Serpent,' meaning it as a laugh on me, for believing in its existence; but it proved to be no joke. The animal was then between 30 and 40 yeards distance from us…He soon sunk; but not so deep but we could trace his course. He rose again within 20 yards distance of us, and lay some time on the water. He then turned, and steered for Ten Pound Island' we pulled after him; but finding that he was not pleased with the noise of our oars, they were laid in, and the boat skulled…We had a good view of him, except the very short period while he was under the water…His colour is a dark brown, with white under the throat…his head is about three feet circumference, flat and much smaller than his body. We did not see his tail; but from the end of the head to the furthest protuberance was not far from 100 feet…I counted 14 bunches on his back…His motion was sometimes very rapid, and at other times he lay nearly still. He turned slowly and took up considerable room in doing it. He sometimes darted under water, with the greatest velocity, as if seizing prey…"

September 4, 1819, Volume LI, No. 4003: "We publish the following letter from the commander of the U.S. schooner Science…because the gentleman who first gives his signature, William Malbone, Esq. has heretofore been a rigid unbeliever…we have had the gratification of seeing the aquatic animal, commonly styled the SEA SERPENT…When almost off Dolliver's neck, we discovered the Marine Monster the outside of us, distant about 30 or 40 yards…He very soon passed the stern of the boat under water, but so near the surface that we could distinctly mark his progress…He, however, seemed desirous of avoiding our inspection, and made slowly out of the harbour…The weather was calm and perfectly clear; and our distances from him…enabled us to form a pretty correct opinion of his size, length, colour, and motions…His body was much larger than his head; but we can give no accurate opinion of its circumference. One of us counted thirteen, and the other fourteen, protuberances on his back, the centre of each about seven feet apart…He was of a dark brown, or rather a mud colour…He appeared in swimming much like the fresh water snakes; his motion partly horizontal, and partly undulatory…"

The creature described above would come to be known as the Gloucester Sea Serpent and was reportedly seen around the coast of Massachusetts and Cape Ann from August 1817 to 1819. Over the years there were numerous recorded sightings, the most famous being when a group aboard the schooner "Caravan" saw and fired a cannon at it. Despite the numerous eyewitness accounts and tales of encounters, the true existence of the Gloucester Sea Serpent continued to remain a subject of debate. The cryptozoology community has suggested that the animal could be a large species of eel, but many others believe the events may be a hoax or the result of misidentification of known marine animals. Recent speculations are that witnesses mistook a pod of narwhals as a single creature, as numerous spectators reported seeing a stinger protruding from the head. This theory would account for the sight of multiple humps, a stinger/spear, and other reported features. Scientists have stated that while narwhals "usually do not stray far below the Arctic Circle”, stragglers or lost pods have been recorded around Newfoundland, Europe, and the eastern Mediterranean. Nevertheless, the mystery of the Gloucester Sea Serpent and what was really seen over the course of a few summers remains unsolved to this day.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

ACH, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house worldwide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third Party Shipping Option: If a third party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third party Please copy and paste this following link into your browser: http://universityarchives.com/UserFiles/ShippingInfo.pdf. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

February 21, 2024 10:30 AM EST
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000