Seacoast History Blog #101
December 13, 2010  

My guess is that the miracle of eBay is more constructive, than destructive to loca history. I’m constantly appalled by people who buy up collections or family photo albums or early books and then tear them apart in order to sell off all the pieces separately. I wish there was some way to wire their computer keyboards directly to an electric outlet and zap them. They are the incarnation of evil. But, at the same time, eBay has allowed local historical institutions to locate and sometimes purchase regional items that have gone astray, and bring them home. But as often as not, the items we want most are priced out of sight by eager collectors bidding from all around the planet. You win some, you lose some. For me, the best part of the show, is simply watching the stuff go uy like a kid with his face pressed against the candy store window – and sometimes learning a bit about history in the process. (Continued below) 

 Following are a few items I had my eye on, and didn’t get. But it’s interesting just to know that they exist.

PAUL JONES (NOT) PIPE

This was advertised as a pipe depicting John Paul Jones. I wanted to add it to my collection of “Jonesiana” that I often lecture about, but it didn’t look quite right. I thought the French-language label might make it a souvenir of Jones’ second funeral ceremony in Paris in 1905 (he died in 1792 and was exhumed) and was about to bid when I suddenly came to my senses. “Isn’t this Napoleon?” I asked the seller in an email. He wrote back to say he had no idea who it was. Another closer photo proved my theory.I let it pass, and just as well, since I had $20 and the item went for $100.

 WITTE'S  ROCKING CHAIR 

According to a plaque on the bottom of this chair it was used by Russian ambassador Sergei Witte when he stayed at Wentworth by the Sea during negotiations for the famed Treaty of Portsmouth. I’ve never understood why a piece of furniture has value added if someone famous sat in it, but what the heck, it would go nicely with the chair that Japanese Ambassador Jutaro Komura sat in at the treaty negotiations – since we have that chair. The bid stayed low for a week, then jumped to over $700. Don’t know who bought it, but at the last minute the price jumped to an astonishing $2,180. Would love to know who purchased this item and whether it is going on display somewhere. Witte was a master of public relations and managed to make a strong impression on the townspeople of Portsmouth. Apparently he still is. He returned to Russia a conquering hero, but Komura returned to angry mobs who felt that the treaty negotiations gave a victory to the Russians and dishonored the Japanese cause. An elaborate 2005 centennial celebration in Portsmouth revived the membory of the event and greatly expanded scholarship on the Treaty of Portsmouth. And it very likely raised the value of this old rocking chair to boot.

BEACHED WHALE  

Hadn’t seen this amazing photo of a small beached whale that, according to this postcard, washed up in Portsmouth, NH. Bid and missed it. Grabbed the JPG. Come to think of it -- where is the beach in Portsmouth? Is this Hampton? Anyway, here it is.

OLD IRONSIDES CANDY DISH

Can’t recall seeing other souvenirs of Old Ironsides in its cabbed-over format at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in the late 1800s. A reader pointed out this candy dish to me. I bid, but blew it again.

SeacoastNH.com 2010