Whaleboat Collection

RACE FOR A WHALE. Wood engraving, American, after Isaiah West Taber, 1874

CURRIER and IVES. Capturing the whale. Litography

Meigs Raid on the British at Sag Harbor NY, 1777
Rhode Island militia taking Sag Harbor, Long Island, from the British during the Revolutionary War. Hand-colored woodcut of a 19th-century illustration

ALASKA: WHALE BOAT, c1929. Native Americans launching a whale boat at Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska. Photographed by Edward S. Curtis, c1929

GREENLAND WHALING, 1789. The Greenland Whale Fishery. Aquatint, English, by Robert Dodd, 1789

CURRIER & IVES: WHALING. Lithograph, American, 19th century

WHALING, 19th CENTURY. Whaleboat being dragged by a harpooned whale (known as a Nantucket sleigh ride ). Line engraving, American, late 19th century, after Isaiah West Taber

STORIES OF THE WHALE. Or Perils of the Whale Fishery. Front cover of an American booklet for boys, late 19th century

AMERICAN FISHING, 1867. American Fishing Scenes. Wood engraving, American, 1867

NEW BEDFORD WHALER. A boat from a New Bedford whaler harpooning a whale. Wood engraving, American, late 19th century

LANCING A WHALE. Wood engraving, American, 1874

AN OLD WHALER. A late 18th century or early 19th century whaling ship. Wood engraving, American, 1874

WHALING: ACCIDENT. A whale cutting a whaleboat in two. Wood engraving, American, c1870s

SOUTH SEAS WHALING. Whaling close to icebergs in the South Seas. Steel engraving, mid-19th century

NEW ENGLAND WHALING PORT. Possibly Nantucket. American engraving, 1852

WHALING, 1850. Wood engraving, American, 1850

WHALING, 1850. A whale overturning a whaleboat. Wood engraving, American, 1850

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"Race for a Whale: A Glimpse into the Thrilling World of Whaling in the 19th Century" Step back in time and witness the heart-pounding pursuit of these magnificent creatures, as depicted in wood engravings, lithographs, and aquatints from the late 18th to early 20th centuries. The whaleboat takes center stage in these captivating illustrations, showcasing its vital role in capturing these leviathans of the deep. In an iconic wood engraving by Isaiah West Taber from 1874, we are transported to a scene where men aboard a whaleboat engage in an exhilarating race against time. Their determination is palpable as they chase after their harpooned prey with unwavering resolve. The Nantucket sleigh ride comes alive through another line engraving from the same era. We can almost feel the adrenaline coursing through our veins as we witness this daring spectacle unfold before our eyes - a testament to human strength and ingenuity pitted against nature's mightiest force. Currier & Ives immortalize this perilous endeavor with their lithograph titled "Capturing the Whale. " It captures both the danger and triumph that awaited those who dared venture into treacherous waters on their quest for fortune and adventure. But whaling was not limited to American shores alone; it reached far-flung corners of the globe. In Alaska, Native Americans launch their own whaleboat at Cape Prince of Wales - a testament to how this age-old tradition transcended cultural boundaries. Greenland also played host to intrepid whalers seeking riches amidst icy waters. Robert Dodd's aquatint showcases brave souls battling freezing temperatures while pursuing elusive whales – highlighting just how far people were willing to go for profit. These tales of bravery found their way onto book covers aimed at young boys during this period.