Collection of items from the widow of Captain Cook; Dance portrait of Cook, a painting of the Cook family crest and provenance with American connections.
Ca.. 1855. A collection of three items assembled by John McAllister Jr. of Philadelphia ca. 1855, the son of Francis (Wardale) M'Allister, a cousin of James Cook's. The three items include an autograph letter from McAllister explaining the provenance of the collection; a copy of the print engraved by J.K. Sherwin of Dance's portrait of Cook; and a framed painting of the Cook family crest. In the autograph letter, M'Allister states that the portrait was one of two copies which were presented at two different times to his mother by the widow of Capt. Cook. This would appear to be the companion portrait to Beddie 3392, (Nan Kivell 9528) held by the National Library of Australia, which "includes a 20-line MS note signed by John M'Allister stating that the engraving 'is one of two copies which were presented to my mother at two different times by the widow of Captain C.' ". McAllister notes that one of the copies was brought from London about the year 1792 by Col. Eleanor Oswald of Philadelphia, the other was carried to the States in 1802 by William Poyntell of Philadelphia - "these gentlemen had called on Mrs. Cook by request of my Mother."
The second item is a framed painting of Cook's family crest. According to the notations on the back of the boards, the crest was painted by John Scott, R.A., by request of McAllister. It was copied from a painting which was presented by Cook's widow to Mrs. Grace (Fleck) Carter, a niece of Captain Cook. Mrs. Carter was born at Redcar in 1771 and "is still living at that place in 1855." The handsome gilt background shows off a crest of four crossed flags, the British and US flag and two others, a shield with the names "Pacific Ocean, New Holland, N. America, Asia & S. America" inscribed on it; "Nil Intentatum Reliquit" below with cannons, cannonballs and spears; "Captain James Cook R.N. F.R.S." in a red banner below; and above all the crest of a bent arm holding aloft the British flag, crowned with the motto "Circa Orbem". It is in an early dark frame.
ALS 7 1/2 x 9", mounted on board, some foxing. The crest is an oil painting on board, 10 x 12" in a period frame. The Dance portrait has been varnished in the manner of an oil painting, trimmed to 10 x 12", backed on board. It has recently been restored, but is still sadly lacking its former luster.
There are a series of M'Allister family items, including letters, books & portraits held by the National Library of Australia and listed in Beddie as 3392, 3633, 4345, 4344, 1958, 1973 & 2022. An interesting American association with Cook. Item #5521
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