• 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
• Call number
  SAFE/DR 2
  
• Level of description
  fonds
• Date
  
  ca. 1779
• Type of material
  Graphic Materials, Objects
• Reference code
  421788
• Issue Copy
  Digitised
• Physical Description
  Objects - 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 - 9 x 7 cm. (ditty box); 7 x 23 x 15 cm. (glass box)
  
• Access Conditions
  
  Access via appointment
• Copying Conditions
  Out of copyright:
  Please acknowledge:: Dixson Library, State Library of New South Wales
• General note
  
  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
  This item has been digitised as part of the Nelson Meers Foundation Benefaction, 2002
• Signatures / Inscriptions
  
  "Quebec Newfoundland Greenwich Australis" -- engraved on first silver plate
  "Lono and the Seaman's Idol" -- engraved on second silver plate
  "Captain James Cook slain at Owhyhee, 14 February, 1779" -- engraved on third silver plate inset on the base of the box
  "Made of Resolution oak for Mrs Cook by crew" -- carved around sides of the box
• Subject
  Cook, James, 1728-1779.
  Cook, James, 1728-1779--Relics.
  Adult Males
  
• Topic
  boxes & cases
  hair (people)
  mourning objects
  
• Exhibited in
  
  Captain Cook, R. N., the resolute mariner: an international record of oceanic discovery - Oregon Historical Society (7 January, 1974 - 1 January, 1975)
  Possessed : an exhibition of treasures - State Library of New South Wales (March 1997 - June 1997)
  Nelson Meers Foundation Heritage Collection - Jan-June 2003
  Dixson 60 - State Library of New South Wales

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