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Captain J.F.A.E. VAN KEMPEN : 1895 ORIGINAL HANDWRITTEN JOURNAL: “METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS OF THE DUTCH STEAMER JAVA” AS IT GOES FROM AMSTERDAM TO THE DUTCH WEST INDIES AND BACK

4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. On offer is a small but fascinating 30 page book of handwritten weather observations and meteorological observations from the very end of the 19th century, from an author on board the Dutch steam ship ‘Java’. From July 31st to November 15th, 1895, the book records various quantitative and qualitative observations about the weather as the steamer travels from the Port of Amsterdam, around the Andalusian Peninsula, through the Strait of Gibraltar, across the Mediterranean, through the Suez Canal and ending up in Padang in what is now West Sumatra in Indonesia, and what was then part of the Dutch Empire. From Padang the ship goes to a number of ports in Sumatra and Java (Pasuruan, Pegalongan, Tandjung Priok, and a few others) before it sails back to Amsterdam along a similar route. The front page declares the book to be the: “Meteorological Observations of the Dutch steamer ‘Java’. 1895.” The verso of each page is taken up with the quantitative measurements of the weather. This includes, “Latitude” and “Longitude,” (in degrees) “Tide,” (in speed and direction) “Barometer,” (in millimeters of mercury) and “Thermometer” (in celsius). The recto of each page is taken up with qualitative “Observations” of the weather and occasionally the name of the location where the steamer was situated that day. For example: “August 9. Sea calm, clear sky. Breeze E.N.E. Passed at the First Watch Cape de Fen.”; “August 24. Passed the Isle of Socator. Heavy breeze S.S.W. High sea S.S.W. hazy atmosphere.”; “October 20. Heavy wind. High sea. Rainy weather. Sea and wind west.”; “October 24. Light breeze, sky a little cloudy. Sea calm.” The only pages that depart from this format are the very first page of observations (“Departed the 31 July at ten o’clock in the morning from Amsterdam, at 3h 35m afternoon from the harbour at Ijmuiden.”) and the two pages where the ship is in Java and Sumatra going from port to port before heading back home. The first page also shows that the book was ‘Presented to Weather Bureau in August 1924 by Capt. J. F. A. E Van Kempen, Municipal Officer, Soerabaia, Java, formerly an officer on the Dutch S.S. ‘Java’ by L. S. Aug 28, 1924.” The book is 30 pages and containing 28 pages of writing. It’s cover is red cloth board, showing light shelf and edge wear to the soft boards. The pages within are slightly loose from the binding, but still connected. The handwriting is legible throughout, with the exception for the few and far between words in which the ink ha smudged and made the reading slightly difficult. The pages are also thin, so the ink shows from the other side of the page. However, It does not make any words on the page illegible or unclear. This piece would make an excellent addition to the history of the Dutch Empire, its trade and its naval capabilities. Overall: G+. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good +

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