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Interesting Manuscript Account of the Voyage of An Irish Yacht to
Scandinavia, 1872 de Montmorencey: A manuscript folio volume of
51 written pages narrating the voyage of the cutter yacht Mystery to
Norway, Sweden and Denmark in the summer of 1872. The yacht’s
officers are listed as H. de Montmorency Fleming, ‘’Owner, Skipper,
General Navigator’’; J.C. Fleming, ‘’Master’’; and W. de Montmorency,
‘’Chaplain’’. These were Harvey de Montmorency Fleming (aged thirty),
his father John Congreve Fleming (aged sixty), both of Barracore
House, Goresbridge, Co. Kilkenny, and his cousin the Rev. Waller de
Montmorency, rector of Kilsheelan, Co. Tipperary (also aged thirty - he
became Archdeacon of Ossory in 1911). The first and second mates,
boatswain, AB (able seaman) and cook cum steward are also named.
The narrative begins with the arrival of the Mystery at Cowes in the Isle
of Wight on 29 June 1872, having come over from Dunmore East. It
ends with her arrival at Inverness on 16 August following. During her
seven-week voyage she visited Christiansand, Gothenburg (Gˆteborg),
Elsinore (Helsing¯r), Copenhagen and Karlskrona. The narrative is
lively and in addition to daily details of the voyage there are entertaining
accounts of local customs, buildings, personalities and types of food. The
volume is profusely illustrated with photographs, lively pencil sketches
by Harvey Fleming, printed maps, rubbings of Scandinavian coinage,
and small engravings. A fascinating insight into the seafaring activities
and observations of a group of Anglo-Irish gentlemen in the reign of
Victoria, orig. cloth backed marble boards. As a m/ss, w.a.f. (1) Ex Libris:
The late Mrs. Jane de Montmorency Wright, Burnchurch ; Castle Morres,
Co. Kilkenny.
Estimate €700 - €1000
Large Image, More Info & Place Bid Lot 628