She was built in 1882 by B. Cerruti at Varazze, Italy for Bros. Michele & Andrea Dall’Orso.
Launched under the name SEBASTIANO DALL’ORSO.
Tonnage 1.074 tons, dim. 182.3 x 32.1 x 23.5ft. (55 x 8.08 x 7.13M.)
Barque rigged. Two decks.
Feb. 1884 she was surveyed at Liverpool; she was then given as built of oak and hard and soft woods. Iron and copper fastenings, and sheeted.
Port of registry Genoa, owner S. Dall’Orso. Tonnage 1.075 tons. Dim. 55 x 8.08 x 7.13m.
Her captain is then given as Cacassa.
In 1885 she made a passage from Cardiff to Singapore in 116 days.
1889 When arriving at Le Havre from South America she was renamed in ITALIA, with port of registry Spezia, Italy.
05 March 1889 command was taken over by Capt. Rolando Perasso.
After sailing from Le Havre Capt Perasso did have on board his son Francesco who was initiating his career following his father’s footsteps.
She sailed from Le Havre to Cardiff and loaded there for the Table Bay in South Africa, from there she sailed to New York, where she loaded petroleum for Penang and Singapore. On her return voyage she made a call at Rangoon to load rice for Glasgow.
Then she loaded coal for Genoa were she arrived at 14 February 1891 after a voyage of 22 months and 11 days.
At Genoa, Francesco left the vessels to complete his Nautical School.
05 May 1891 under command of Capt. Perasso she sailed in the morning from Genoa in ballast to Greenock, to load coal for the Table Bay.
After sailing from Greenock a fire was detect in a hold around 28 September in a position about 300 miles from Tristan da Cunha.
She ran aground on 2 October 1891 late in the afternoon on Stony Beach. The crew was rescued and stayed for a long time on Tristan da Cunha. (Annals of Tristan da Cunha gives 2nd week of March 1892 she grounded.)
End of March 1892 the crew left the island on board the British sailing vessel WILD ROSE which was on her way from Australia to Cape Town, except three young sailors of the crew, which were coming from Camogli: Gaetano Lavarello, Andrea Repetto and Nazzareno Marcianesi (the last name is doubtful, some Italian sources have 2 men other 3 men, according a MS I have from Tristan da Cunha only two men stayed behind). The men stayed behind due to falling in love with local girls.
The WILD ROSE arrived 21 days later in Cape Town were the men left the vessel to board a mail ship for Las Palmas.
Tristan da Cunha 1971 4p sg 155, scott 159. 1991 10p/£1 sg 535/38, scott 517/20 and 2006 50p sg?, scott?
Source: Il Romanza della Vela, by Tommaso Gropallo and Storia Della Marina Mercantile a Vela Italina mel Secolo XIX Mursia, Milano 1973.