Log of H. M. S. Alexandra bearing the [flag] of Vice Admiral Sir F. Beauchamp Seymour, K. C. B. | Captain Lord Walter Kerr. [with] Logs of H. M. Ships "Tamar" and "Hecla"

(n. p.): 1880-1882. 12-3/4 x 8-1/2 inches. [184]pp including colored and illustrated title pages + 16 tipped-in ink and pen and watercolor illustrations and descriptions; illustrations vary in size, with some being double-page. Holograph ink text. Dark brown half-leather with brown cloth, gilt stamped "Log of H.M.S. 'Alexandra' to front board, marbled endpapers. Light general wear and rubbing to boards and spine; slight damp-staining to rear board; minor smudging and soiling scattered throughout; partial split to gutter at first title page; gutter break at one illustration. Overall, written and illustrated in an extremely neat hand. About Very Good.

The log of the H.M.S. Alexandra from October 1, 1880 to May 26, 1882, with a separate section at the beginning of logs for the Tamar and Hecla from September 16-30, 1880. Each page is neatly divided in ink into four equal sections, usually containing columns for the time of day, wind direction, brief weather report (e.g., "calm"), and a larger column for notes, with the city or latitude and longitude and date as a header for the section; in most but not all cases, each section is a day's entry.

A meticulously detailed record of two early years in the H. M. S. Alexandra's history, documenting not only the conditions in which she operated, but, in the notes column for each day, many of the sailing instructions, staff changes, conditions aboard the ship, state of food stores, and more. Commissioned in 1877 and put under the command of Captain Kerr in March 1880, the Alexandra served as the flagship of the Mediterranean fleet for much of her career, and at the time of her completion was the fastest battleship afloat. In September 1880, Captain Kerr supervised the handover of Ulcinj to Montenegro in accordance with the terms of the Treaty of Berlin, and in June 1882 the Alexandra took part in the bombardment of Alexandria. Kerr would eventually rise to the rank of First Naval Lord.

The original illustrations are exquisite and just as meticulous, and include diagrams and sketches of the ship, several maps of the Mediterranean as a whole and of Malta, as well as watercolors of Dulcigno and Corfo.

A richly detailed and beautiful document of part of this ship's history.