Title Page of First Edition of Moby-Dick On display in "The Age of Moby-Dick" exhibit in the Maritime Section of the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA (courtesy of Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA)
Journal of Melville's whaling ship Acushnet 1845-1847 On display in "The Age of Moby-Dick" exhibit, Maritime Section, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA. (courtesy of Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA)
Entry of 11 July 1842 in journal of the ship Potomac Entry is regarding Acushnet deserters in the Marquesas [which would have included Melville], courtesy of Peter Black, in "The Age of Moby-Dick" exhibit, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA. (courtesy of Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA)
Whale Chart Whale Chart, 1851, prepared by Lieutenant Matthew Fontaine Maury, based upon reports by whalers in all the world's seas.
Works of Art
"Cachalot Fishery "1824 Lithograph of sperm whaling "Cachalot Fishery 1824," that is described extensively in Moby-Dick and singled out in Moby-Dick as "by far the finest, though in some details not the most correct, presentation of whales and whaling scenes to be anywhere found." (courtesy of Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA)
"Attacking the Right Whale" by Ambroise Louis Garneray Oil painting with ship by French artist Ambroise Louis Garneray [whom Melville praises in Moby-Dick]"Attacking the Right Whale," ca. 1835, source for Currier and Ives prints and others (courtesy of Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA)
Unidentified picture of White-whale (Great-Headed Cachalot), ca. 1870 This picture of a White-whale may be a reference to Moby-Dick (courtesy of Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA)
"Uses of the Sperm Whale," 1844 Lithograph with images of the uses surrounding a depiction of a whale hunt
"Uses of the Baleen Whale," 1844 Lithograph that includes images of umbrella ribs and corset stays surrounding a depiction of Eskimos eating whale meat
Embroidered ship portrait or "woolie" Embroidered ship portrait or "woolie" from the mid-19th century.
Pastoral Canvas-work Picture, 1735-1750 Mid-18th century Pastoral Canvas-work picture by Sarah Ropes of Salem, depicting birds, ladies, and livestock.
Pastoral Canvas-work Picture, 1750-1780 Mid-18th century Pastoral Canvas-work picture by unidentified Salem or Boston artist, depicting lady, gentleman, and flower.
Pastoral Canvas-work Picture, ca. 1765 Pastoral Canvas work picture of ca. 1765 by Sarah Chamberlain, depicting lady, dog, and birds.
1822 Sampler 1822 Sampler by Sarah Prescott of Westford (Forge Village), Massachusetts, depicting trees and grapevines and a floral vine border surrounding an acrostic verse for "virtue."
1788 Sampler 1788 Sampler by Sally Rust of Salem, depicting lady, gentleman, sheep, and landscape.
1778 Sampler 1778 Sampler by Nabby Mason Peele, depicting, in characteristic work of Essex County, Massachusetts, lady, gentleman, sheep, and such phrasing as "Beneath the slaughtered lamb inscribed."
Contemplation by the Shore Oil on wood fireboard: "Contemplation by the Shore, 1790," with romanticized New England shore, grazing sheep, a fisherman, ships, and a lady with a dog.
Objects
Sperm whale jaw On display in maritime section of Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA (courtesy of Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA)
Model of Try-works Model of Try-works, the brick ovens used on whaling ships for reducing blubber. Model built by Salem brick mason Anthony Della Monica ca. 1936.
Ambergris Sample of ambergris, the waxy substance from some sperm whales' intestines used as a fixative for perfume and also as medicine and flavoring, sometimes more valuable than whale oil.
Shipboard lamp Shipboard lamp used on early 19th century New Bedford whaler. The lamp is on a swinging stand in order to remain level at sea.
Crude and Refined Sperm Whale Oil Two clear glass containers of "Crude and Refined Sperm Whale Oil," specimens from a New Bedford producer in 1909. The unrefined oil has crystalized wax near the surface; the refined was used for lubrication and in lamps.
Umbrella with Baleen Ribs A late 19th century umbrella with baleen ribs from a baleen whale.
French corset, ca. 1893 Late 19th century French corset with strips of baleen or "whalebone" sewn into its hourglass frame.
Scrimshawed whale's teeth Mid-19th century matching pair of scrimshawed whale's teeth depicting ships.
Embroidered sailor's pants Sailor's pants embroidered by Rhode Island sailor on voyage from New England to the South Pacific, designs perhaps based upon South Pacific people's tattoo patterns.
1771 Salem Weathercock 1771 Salem Weathercock of gilded copper with glass eyes, a symbol of vigilance but also of betrayal of Christ.
Theatrical Productions
"A Tanglewood Tale," a play about the relationship between Hawthorne and Melville inthe Berkshires by Juliane and Stephen Glantz Publicity photo of Dan McCleary as Herman Melville, seated, and James Goodwin Rice as Nathaniel Hawthorne, standing, in Shakespeare and Company's 2001 production of "A Tanglewood Tale." (courtesy of Shakespeare and Company)
"A Tanglewood Tale," a play about the relationship between Hawthorne and Melville in the Berkshires by Juliane and Stephen Glantz Publicity photo of Dan McCleary as Herman Melville and James Goodwin Rice as Nathaniel Hawthorne, both standing, in Shakespeare and Company's 2001 production of "A Tanglewood Tale." (courtesy of Shakespeare and Company)
"A Tanglewood Tale," a play about the relationship between Hawthorne and Melville in the Berkshires by Juliane and Stephen Glantz Publicity photo of Dan McCleary as Herman Melville and James Goodwin Rice as Nathaniel Hawthorne as they celebrate the publication of "Moby-Dick" at the Curtis Hotel, Lenox, in Shakespeare and Company's 2001 production of "A Tanglewood Tale." (courtesy of Shakespeare and Company)
"A Tanglewood Tale," a play about the relationship between Hawthorne and Melville in the Berkshires by Juliane and Stephen Glantz Close-up publicity photo of James Goodwin Rice as Nathaniel Hawthorne and Dan McCleary as Herman Melville in Shakespeare and Company's 2001 production of "A Tanglewood Tale." (courtesy of Shakespeare and Company)
"A Tanglewood Tale," a play about the relationship between Hawthorne and Melville in the Berkshires by Juliane and Stephen Glantz Long-shot of publicity photo of James Goodwin Rice as Nathaniel Hawthorne and Dan McCleary as Herman Melville in Shakespeare and Company's 2001 production of "A Tanglewood Tale." (courtesy of Shakespeare and Company)
Lenox & Mount Greylock
Tanglewood Plaque Commemorating House Where Hawthorne Lived While in the Berkshires Tanglewood plaque commemorating the house where Hawthorne lived from the spring of 1850 to the autumn of 1851 while in the Berkshires. It is here that he wrote The House of the Seven Gables and The Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys and where his daughter, Rose, was born. The house was destroyed by fire in June, 1890. (courtesy of Halldor F. Utne)
Tanglewood Plaque Commemorating House Where Hawthorne Lived While in the Berkshires Tanglewood plaque commemorating the house where Hawthorne lived from the spring of 1850 to the autumn of 1851 while in the Berkshires. It is here that he wrote The House of the Seven Gables and The Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys and where his daughter, Rose, was born. The house was destroyed by fire in June, 1890. (courtesy of Halldor F. Utne)
The rebuilt version of "The Little Red House" at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts Hawthorne began his self-imposed exile from Salem in the spring of 1850 when he and his family moved to the original "Little Red House" in Lenox, MA, which burned down in 1890. He and his family lived there until Nov. 21, 1851. (photography by Rich Murphy)
The rebuilt version of "The Little Red House" at Tanglewood in Lenox Massachusetts Hawthorne began his self-imposed exile from Salem in the spring of 1850 when he and his family moved to the original "Little Red House" in Lenox, MA, which burned down in 1890. He and his family lived there until Nov. 21, 1851. (photography by Rich Murphy)
The Rebuilt Version of "The Little Red House" at Tanglewood in Lenox, MA Hawthorne began his self-imposed exile from Salem in the spring of 1850 when he and his family moved to the original "Little Red House" in Lenox, MA, which burned down in 1890. He and his family lived there until Nov. 21, 1851. (courtesy of Halldor F. Utne)
The rebuilt version of the Little Red House at Tanglewood in Lenox, MA Hawthorne began his self-imposed exile from Salem in the spring of 1850 when he and his family moved to the original "Little Red House" in Lenox, MA, which burned down in 1890. He and his family lived there until Nov. 21, 1851. (courtesy of Halldor F. Utne)
The rebuilt version of "The Little Red House" at Tanglewood in Lenox, MA Hawthorne began his self-imposed exile from Salem in the spring of 1850 when he and his family moved to the original "Little Red House" in Lenox, MA, which burned down in 1890. He and his family lived there until Nov. 21, 1851. (courtesy of Halldor F. Utne)
Mount Greylock, outside North Adams, MA This 3,491 foot peak is the highest point in Massachusetts. Melville could see it through his study window at Arrowhead, and the mountain reminded him of a whale. (photography by Rich Murphy)
Mount Greylock, outside North Adams, MA This 3,491 foot peak is the highest point in Massachusetts. Melville could see it through his study window at Arrowhead, and the mountain reminded him of a whale. (photography by Rich Murphy)
Mount Greylock, outside North Adams, MA This 3,491 foot peak is the highest point in Massachusetts. Melville could see it through his study window at Arrowhead, and the mountain reminded him of a whale. (photography by Rich Murphy)
Mount Greylock, outside North Adams, MA This 3,491 foot peak is the highest point in Massachusetts. Melville could see it through his study window at Arrowhead, and the mountain reminded him of a whale. (photography by Rich Murphy)
Arrowhead
Arrowhead, Melville's house in Pittsfield, MA While living in the Berkshires, Hawthorne visited Melville at Arrowhead. (photography by David McClure)
Side view of Arrowhead, Melville's home in Pittsfield, MA While living in the Berkshires, Hawthorne visited Melville at Arrowhead. (photography by David McClure)
