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John Henry Wye Fonds
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January 1, 1888-December 31, 1888

Diary bound in original half sheep and marbled boards, binding worn in spine and hinges starting, internally clean and fresh. Leaves 27 to 101 contain the daily diary of Wye’s 5 transatlantic crossings between London and Montreal, as ship’s doctor on board the Allan Line’s steamer, “S. S. Pomeranian,” with stops in Halifax, Quebec City and Montreal. The diary is illustrated with 50 original watercolour paintings and cities, of which 31 are identified as Canadian. These includes scenes on the St. Lawrence River, Varennes, St. Helen’s Island, Father Point, Quebec City, Cape Race, Batiscan, Straits of Belle Isle, Deschambault, Sorel, Belle Island, Sydney, and Crawley Creek on Cape Breton Island.

January 1, 1889-December 1889

Diary bound in original half sheep and marbled boards, fine condition. The first 12 leaves recount Wye’s voyage on the “S. S. British Queen” of the Furness Line to Halifax and Boston. Leaves 33-40 recount a second voyage, on board the “S. S. Richmond Hill”, to New York and back. It is illustrated with 5 full page watercolour paintings, including 2 lovely views of Halifax Harbor, 2 views of the Ship, and one of Knebworth House in Hertsfordshire. The remaining small vignettes show the Cathedral Apostolic Church in New York, and, some seascape vignettes of a water spout, Portuguese Man O’ War, buoys, etc.

January 1, 1890-December 31, 1890

Diary bound in original half sheep and marbled boards, fine condition. The bulk of this diary recounts Dr. Wye’s life in London; however from July to September, he sailed on the maiden voyage of the “S.S. Queen Margaret” to the Holy Land, thence to the East Indies. It is decorated with 20 very small watercolour vignettes, most in the 5-10 cm. range, of coastal scenes along the way.

January 1, 1891-December 31, 1891

Diary bound in original half sheep and marbled boards, fine condition. This diary recounts two additional voyages by Dr. Wye, another to the Far East and a second voyage to New York on the “S.S. Richmond Hill.” It is illustrated with 27 small vignette watercolours of the travels, most in the 5 to 10 cm. range, and about a dozen uncolored or unfinished pencil sketches, including 5 of New York City on 2 leaves at the end.

John Henry Wye Fonds

  • CA OSLER P153
  • Fonds
  • 1888-1891

The fonds contains four original manuscript diaries (1 per calendar year), from 1889 to 1991 (transatlantic) with original watercolor drawings by John Henry Wye, Allan Line ship’s surgeon.

Wye, John Henry