EXPLORATION - VENEZUELA, Allyn K TALCOTT / Autograph Letter Signed

Description: This obscure seaman was apparently just your run-of-the-mill sailor; apparently he did see Civil War service, as he appears in the rolls of Civil War veterans from Connecticut. Interesting ALS describing a journey up the Orinoco River in Venezuela, 3pp (lettersheet), 7½" X 10", Angostura, Venezuela, 8 November 1858. Addressed to his sister, Livy. Routine folds and minor age toning. Fascinating travelogue up one of the longest rivers in South America. Angostura, from where Talcott writes, is today a city of over 400,000 people called Ciudad Bolivar and is a major riverport. " He continues: "After sailing sometimes fast and at other times slowly till October twenty fourth we entered the mouth of the Orinoco river. We were then only three hundred miles from Angostura. The land for the first hundred miles from the mouth is low and while sailing that distance we did not at most see over twenty huts.

" The mosquitoes were horrific: "The night of the twenty sixth we anchored in one of the worst musquito regions ever known, at least by me, and were soon attacked by an overwhelming force. The greatest relief was found by walking upon deck, but we were soon so tired that various means for obtaining a little sleep were tried. Some got into their berths and tried to rest after covering head and all, but were too warm to sleep much.

Other slept under the long boat and some did not retire. As for myself my musquito curtains were not up therefore after walking till very late I put on my boots, tucked my pants into the legs as if I was going into the snow, put my head into a pillow case, tied a handkerchief round my neck, rapt my hands up in a blanket and tried to sleep on the cabin floor.

Though sweating profusely I slept nearly an hour which was better than many did that night.... Before leaving those low grounds we saw an alligator six or seven feet long running himself upon the bank. " Further up river: "As we ascended farther up the river we found the land more elevated and fit for cultivation, yet almost destitute of inhabitants. " By November 5th they had arrived at Angostura: "Mr Hall who has come to find some profitable employment was much crest fallen when he saw that it was a small poorly built place and has decided to leave for Trinidad....

" Of the city, he notes: "We have no wharf here and are obliged to use boats for unloading & c. The place is supplied with river water, which is carried to the houses by pack donkeys.

Though this is a good place for roads the only wheeled vehicles I have seen are two or three truck carts. Captain was told that there were only twelve horses in the city. Donkeys are used almost exclusively for moving burdens -- remember these are not mules but little things no larger than yearling colts..... Interesting that, although Angostura was renamed Ciudad Bolívar to honor Simón Bolívar in 1846, Talcott only refers to it as Angostura.

Whether Talcott pursued a naval career for the six decades following this letter is unknown -- but it's interesting that a late-life portrait shows him wearing a black-brimmed white skipper's cap! Main Street Fine Books & Manuscripts. Main Street Fine Books & Manuscripts deals in out-of-print and antiquarian books, autographs and historic documents, ephemera, maps and pre-1900 newspapers. Member: ABAA, MWABA, The Manuscript Society. We take great pride in the quality of our stock and clean and cover all hardbound books in dust jacket sleeves or mylar.

Every effort has been made to describe each item and any defects accurately. Large or heavy items may require that additional charges be invoiced separately. All autographs are guaranteed authentic without time limit to the original purchaser. William Butts, co-owner, apprenticed under a well-known Chicago dealer in the 1980s. For years he authored two columns in.

Magazine and after more than 25 years remains book reviewer for. (quarterly journal of The Manuscript Society), in which capacity he stresses autograph education and reference works as the cornerstone of any serious dealer or collector. He has lectured on autograph authentication and contributes reviews and articles to publications such as. This listing was created by Bibliopolis. This item is in the category "Collectibles\Autographs\Historical". The seller is "mainstreetfinebooks" and is located in this country: US.

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Signed: Yes
Industry: Historical