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The extraordinary collection of Robert Richard Sayer. Consisting of his Naval General Service medal with Java bar where he served as a Midshipman, his detailed Naval correspondence from 1806-1835, other pieces of early 19th C. Naval ephemera, Oceanic items collected by him whilst serving as first Lieut. onboard HMS Seringapatam in the pacific in 1830. His collection of shells and mineral ore samples, mainly gathered during his acting Captaincy of HMS Thetis to Rio de Janeiro. Also two-family scrapbooks. All contained within its original painted pine "country house" collectors cabinet
Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands.
"Hair of a Chief's daughter that occasionally swam onboard Seringapatan at Noo-a-hee ve one of the Marquesas Isles. April 1st 1830 Hight 48 inches aged about 11 years". To the reverse "hight of men from 5ft 2in to 6ft 1/2 in. Noo-a-hee va"(Nuku Hiva). 3cm x 4.7cm.
A Pair of porpoise tooth, tortoiseshell and trade bead earrings (uuhe). Lable to one. 6.9cm and 6.6cm long.
A pair of whale tooth ivory ear {hakakai) ornaments, one having its cone shell end plugged with wood and having a wooden pin. 6cm and 5cm long.
Tahiti, Society Islands.
Two Bonita fishing hooks (aviti) with mother of pearl shafts, pearl and marine ivory hooks, plant fibre cord and lashing, one having two tufts of hair, probably dog hair. Approx 24cm long with dog hair and cord and 18cm long. Also a mother of pearl haft. 8.4cm long.
Easter Island
"Hair of a female that swam onboard the Seringapatan at Easter Island March 6th 1830". 5.4cm x 3cm.
Pitcairn Island.
A lock of Mary Young's hair (1825-1885) and John Quintal's signature (1812-1838), granddaughter and son one of the original mutineers of the Bounty. "The hair of a very pretty little girl Mary Young and the writing of John Quintill. Pitcairn island, March 17th 1830". 7.4cm x 3.1cm.
A Pitcairn island adze head of black basalt made by the first settlers of the island, 11th-15th Century probably having been excavated or found later by the Mutineers of the Bounty or their descendants and traded with Sayer. "Chisel from Pitcairn islands March 18th 1830". 12cm long.
A "Rock from the tofa of Pitcairns island". 5.3cm long.
Unidentified specimens.
A plated and knotted piece of plant fibre, a whale tooth, possibly from Nuku Hiva and a ring of plaited hair, probably human. 7.2cm long, 12.9cm long and 3.2cm long.
Sayer's 1848 Naval General Service medal with Java bar.
Two drawers of shells and related objects collected by Sayer during his many voyages.
A Group of silver, copper and bronze ore samples collected from South America (Bolivia, Peru and Mexico), possibly in relation to the cargo he transported onboard HMS Thetis, as Acting Captain. After rounding the Cape of Good Hope and delivering safely £800,000-£900,000 worth of silver and gold to Rio de Janeiro, he was superseded by Captain S.Burgess on the 29th November 1830. On the 5th December 1830 HMS Thetis was wrecked off Cape Frio, a massive salvage operation followed. In his letter 9th November 1835 to the First Sea Lord, Sayer "became a loser of my freight to the amount of between seven or eight hundred pounds" because of this.
"A Shaving from inside a 36 ton gun, being at woolwich 11th June 1880" "Shaving from 100 ton gun bei at woolwich 11 june 18" "Shaving from cartridge case for 80 ton gun woolwich. 11 June 1880"
A Seahorse within a gold frame. "Lords prayer of 3d bit" 10cm long.
A Selection of drawings both in pencil, ink and watercolor from the scrap book of drawings and prints which form part of the collection.
Two Fijian clubs are in the British museum, collected by W F Carter who served as assistant surgeon on HMS Seringapatam. Museum No. Oc1855,1220.59 and Oc1855,1220.58