2004-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004
Hand colored engraving, 21”x15”, 1779, French, depicting the battle between John Paul Jones, commander of the Bonhomme Richard andthe British Baltic Convoy. Fine. Extremely Rare. After conducting sea raids on the coast of Britain, John Paul Jones took command in 1779 of a rebuilt French merchant ship, renamed the U.S.S.Bonhomme Richard to honor Benjamin Franklin. On September 23, 1779, Jones engaged the British frigate Serapis in the North Sea, daringly sailing in close, lashing his vessel to the British ship, and fighting the battle at point-blank range. During the fight two of his cannon burst, and the British captain asked Jones if he was ready to surrender. Replied Jones: "Sir, I have not yet begun to fight." The American crew finally boarded the Serapis after the British had struck her colors, and from the deck of the Serapis they watched the U.S.S.Bonhomme Rich ard sink into the North Sea.
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