Lot 69
Pixley, Captain W.
Manuscript account of cruises
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs
Auction: 07 February 2024 from 10:00 GMT
Description
325 manuscript pp. covering April 1841 - October 1844 journalling cruises around the coastline of the British Isles, in 19th-century quarter black morocco, 20 x 15cm
Footnote
FROM THE LIBRARY OF THE STEVENSON LIGHTHOUSE ENGINEERS
Pixley's journal notes a keen interest in lighthouses, and references meeting the Stevensons and visiting the Bell Rock Lighthouse. On Saturday 24th April Pixley writes: "at 6 am Bell Rock Lt. Ho. in sight...This very dangerous Rock is only 1/2 a mile long & 110 yards broad...the Rock is entirely covered at high water, but dives at L.W. about 8 feet. On this is built the most splendid and beautiful Light House...The Lt. House was commenced in 1808 and finished in 1811, built by Robert Stevenson Esq., the Gentleman that we landed yesterday & whose Son is now with us; the inspection of this wonder of the world was the greatest that I ever had."
Pixley also includes several small pen and ink sketches of lighthouses in the work.
On Friday 14th July 1843, Pixley was involved in a shipwreck near the Rock of the Longships, which he recounts on p.201 of the journal.
Provenance: Captain Thomas William Pixley (1819-1891) resided on the Isle of Wight and was, at one point, captain of the Merchantman Essex. On 16th March 1841, Pixley was appointed as an Elder Brother of Trinity House – the official authority for lighthouses in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar.