Re: Glory of the Seas (Сlipper)1869

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john sefton
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Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2009 1:59 pm

Glory of the Seas (Сlipper)1869

Post by john sefton » Mon Dec 03, 2012 7:36 pm

The stamp of USA depicts copy of the painting Richard Moore: “Glory of the Seas”.
This clipper ship was one of Donald McKay's most famous creations. 'Glory of the Seas' was the last in a long line of medium clippers designed and built by the great Donald McKay at his East Boston yard.
Built on spec and funded entirely by McKay himself, Glory of the Seas was launched at his East Boston yard in October 1869, she was registered at 2,009 tons net and measured 240 feet in length with a 44 foot beam.
Nothing was too good for this ship. In fact the whole ship is one of superlatives and a reporter writing of her launching in the Boston paper waxed eloquent describing her as “a magnificent vessel... Her talented builder, Mr. Donald McKay, has produced many splendid vessels, but we consider this one an improvement on them all.” He went on to describe her “matchless beauty” further writing that she had “all the imposing majesty of a ship of war...” She truely was a vessel of superlatives. The choicest mahogany, maple and the finest appointments fitted out her spacious cabins. The after cabin specially fitted with stained glass windows and a recess sofa on each side. The Southern Pine spars (the mainmast was 41 inches( over 1 meter) in diameter - try putting your arms around a stick that size!) were reported as being “without a blemish or knot.” 8000 sq. yards (6,700 sq.meters) of the best cotton duck went into her sails. Rigging was of the finest Manila hemp.
She has three decks, with all her accommodations on the upper deck, and is of a splendid model to carry and sail. Her bow has a bold, dashy rake, with lightly concave lines below, but convex above, and terminates in afullfemale classicalfigure, with flowing drapery. The stern is curvilinear, finely formed, and the run is long and clean, and sets gracefully into the fullness of the hull. The stern is tastefully ornamented with gilded carved work on a black ground.
The list is endless and McKay poured dollar after dollar into the ship confident that, with his name, he would readily find a buyer once she was completed.
Built to his own account at a time when he was in financial difficulties, McKay spared no expense in her construction and even accompanied her on her maiden voyage from New York to San Francisco under the command of Capt. John N. Geit.
Unfortunately for him, news of his money worries had preceded him and when she docked, McKay found that his ship had been sold to Charles Brigham of Boston in lieu of debts. Brigham soon resold her to Captain Josiah Knowles, who kept her until 1880, and under his command she achieved many notable passages and two records which still stand. Changing hands several more times, she spent the 1890s in the Pacific coast coal trade but was laid up in 1902 until sold again for conversion to a barge in 1905. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake reprieved her and she spent a busy five years hauling lumber needed for the city's rebuilding from the Northwest. She ended her career as a floating cannery and then a storage hulk until burned for her scrap metal in 1923. The figurehead of the ship is preserved at the India House, New York.

USA 2011 SG?
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usa.jpg
Glory of the Seas.jpg

Anatol
Posts: 1037
Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 2:13 pm

Re: Glory of the Seas (Сlipper)1869

Post by Anatol » Wed Feb 08, 2017 10:28 pm

Glory of the Seas 1869. The design stamp is made after painting of Richard Moor: Glory of the Seas. Benin 2015;1000f.
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GLORY OF SEAS by Richard Moor.jpg

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