Full title: Carved ditty box shaped like a coffin on silver stand, containing a rough watercolour sketch of the death of Cook, including a lock of Cook's hair, ca. 1779 / carved by sailors on Cook's last ship HMS Resolution

Author/creator: .

Date: ca. 1779.

Call Numbers: SAFE/DR 2

Record Identifier: npAd3Ob1

Language:

Formats: Pictures, Objects

Contents: Objects - 9 x 7 cm. (ditty box); 7 x 23 x 15 cm. (glass box) - 1 carved wooden ditty box, coffin-shaped, with swivel lid inlaid with mother-of-pearl shell. 2 silver plaques adorn the top of the lid, and a third plaque is on the base of the box. Inside the box, under glass, is a lock of Cook's hair and a rough watercolour sketch, depicting Cook's death. The ditty box sits on a silver stand and is enclosed in a glass box, silver mounted. A sliding compartment in the bottom of the case contains documents

Publishers:

Notes: Sliding compartment in the bottom of the case contains a description by Thomas Hart of how the box was made, and a statutory declaration signed by C. Albert Maggs, dated 19.8.12 stating that Thomas Hart was a relative of Mrs Cook. There is also a roneoed sheet which says that Lono was the name of one of the four principal gods of Hawaii The box was given by Mrs Cook to a relation, Mr John Carpenter, in 1806, and it then came into the possession of a descendant, Mr Thomas Hart, from whom it was purchased by Sir William Dixson. Source: Newspaper article by H.N.K. about the ditty box held at SPF/Cook - Relics Digital order no:Album ID : 823904

Permalink: https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/npAd3Ob1

MMS ID: 110318885