London Jack

Jack London, The Cruise of the Snark Annotated Manuscript Including the Last Paragraphs, and Signed Check

Lot consists of an extensively annotated 1st revision typed manuscript from The Cruise of the Snark with 120+ handwritten edits/words in Jack London's hand; along with a signed check dating from the era of the Snark's construction. This portion of the manuscript includes the book's wistful closing sentences ("happy, happy voyage was abandoned"), and was composed by the author in Glen Ellen, California on April 7, 1911. London's handwritten draft was published exactly as London composed it here for the first time, providing us with invaluable insights about London's writing process.

In the spring of 1907, Jack London (1876-1916), accompanied by his wife Charmian (1871-1955) and a small crew, set out for a modern maritime adventure aboard the Snark, their 45' long custom built sailboat. Over the next 2 years, the Londons would sail west and south across the Pacific Ocean, exploring Hawaii, the Solomon Islands, Fiji, Tahiti, Australia, and other tropical locales. London later recounted his travel experiences in a non-fiction illustrated account called The Cruise of the Snark, published by The Macmillan Company in New York in 1911.

This typed manuscript galley corresponds to pages 339-340 of London's final 1st edition of The Cruise of the Snark. In this excerpt from the epilogue, called "Backward", London records his final thoughts on the remarkable voyage. Especially touching is London's valedictory tribute to his wife Charmian, "the Mate of the Snark" to whom he also dedicated the book.

The galley proof is oversized, measuring 9.25" x 11.875", and it has generously sized margins that accommodate the author's copious handwritten edits. The typed page is slightly water damaged and currently adhered to a blank page underneath it, but could probably be professionally restored. With scattered light soiling, chipped edges, and a few rips and closed tears. Else good.

London's edits throughout the manuscript are in pencil and black felt-tip pen. In the top left hand corner, London has written: "yes, give address and date, but omit name", referring to the "Glen Ellen, California / April 7, 1911" that is pencil inscribed at center. He also replaced the word "for" for "toward" in the first paragraph. Other possibly publisher's edits in red are found throughout.

London drew a line towards the bottom of the page, where he wrote the following lengthy addition, which became the book's penultimate paragraph:

"In passing: I may mention that among the other afflictions that jointly compelled the abandonment of the voyage, was one that is variously called the healthy man's disease, European Leprosy, and Biblical Leprosy. Unlike True Leprosy, nothing is known of this mysterious malady. No doctor has ever claimed a cure for a case of it, though spontaneous cures are recorded. It comes, they know not how. It is, they know not what. It goes, they know not why. Without the use of drugs, merely by living in the wholesome California climate, my silvery skin vanished. The only hope the doctors had held out to me was a spontaneous cure, and such a cure was mine."

Also included is an incredible black and white photograph that would become Illustration 8: "The two boats, on deck, left little room". This was possibly inscribed by Charmian London as "This goes on galley near beginning of the book. It's [sic] place of mention is marked."

The manuscript pages correspond to the following published text found in The Cruise of the Snark. Areas affected by London's edits are in bold.

"--Woodruff of the United States Army entitled 'Effects of Tropical Light on White Men.' Then I knew. Later, I met Colonel Woodruff, and learned that he had been similarly afflicted. Himself an Army surgeon, seventeen Army surgeons sat on his case in the Philippines, and, like the Australian specialists, confessed themselves beaten. In brief, I had a strong predisposition toward the tissue-destructiveness of tropical light. I was being torn to pieces by the ultra-violet rays just as many experimenters with the X-ray have been torn to pieces.

In passing, I may mention that among the other afflictions that jointly compelled the abandonment of the voyage, was one that is variously called the healthy man’s disease, European Leprosy, and Biblical Leprosy. Unlike True Leprosy, nothing is known of this mysterious malady. No doctor has ever claimed a cure for a case of it, though spontaneous cures are recorded. It comes, they know not how. It is, they know not what. It goes, they know not why. Without the use of drugs, merely by living in the wholesome California climate, my silvery skin vanished. The only hope the doctors had held out to me was a spontaneous cure, and such a cure was mine.

A last word: the test of the voyage. It is easy enough for me or any man to say that it was enjoyable. But there is a better witness, the one woman who made it from beginning to end. In hospital when I broke the news to Charmian that I must go back to California, the tears welled into her eyes. For two days she was wrecked and broken by the knowledge that the happy, happy voyage was abandoned.

Glen Ellen, California,

April 7, 1911."

In addition to the hand-corrected manuscript is an unnumbered check inscribed overall and signed “Jack London” on the payee line. Issued from the Central Bank of Oakland, California on August 28, 1905 in the amount of $48.80 payable to “C.H. Rankin”. Endorsed verso. The plain cream check is stamped in purple and bears a y-shaped cancellation mark at center. In near fine condition. Check measures 6.5" x 2.75".

Jack London grew up in Oakland, California. He attended elementary school through high school there, and studied at a local waterfront bar named Heinold's First and Last Saloon; the proprietor later lent him tuition money to Berkeley.

Jack London wrote dozens of poems, short stories, essays, and novels over a prolific career curtailed by chronic ill-health. With income generated from adventure classics like Call of the Wild (1903) and White Fang (1906), London was able to purchase a ranch in Glen Ellen, California around 1905, and outfit his two-masted sailboat, the Snark.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.