Oct 10, 2013 - Sale 2324

Sale 2324 - Lot 372

Price Realized: $ 292
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 300 - $ 400
(WHALING.) Telegraphic Code, J. & W.R. Wing, New Bedford, Mass. and San Francisco, Cal. [cover title]. 62 manuscript pages. Small 12mo, original wrappers; small ownership sticker of Barbara Johnson on rear wrapper. [New Bedford, MA?], 1883
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Additional Details

Each vessel in the Wing fleet had its own set of code words pertaining to that particular vessel, in addition to general code words for matters which pertained to all vessels: number of barrels of sperm or whale oil being carried, price of oil on the market, amount for drafts drawn, etc. A message reading "Baritone" meant "What lay will you give First Mate?", while "Affable" meant "Have offer for whale oil." Vessels given their own specific codes included Fleetwing, Abraham Barker, Atlantic, and John Dawson.