1804-Printed, “Original Account of the Desperate Engagement and Capture of the General Washington, Alexander Boyle, Commander: Which was Attacked by Two Barbary Corsairs,...” with its dramatic frontispiece Engraving, London, Framed, Fine.
This historic Imprint, measures 14" x 6.5" (by sight), fully gilt-wood framed to 20.5" x 12.75" with black mat and attractive gilt fillet. It presents the title page and the opened folding aquatint frontispiece of Thomas Tegg's account of the American vessel “General Washington,” then commanded by Alexander Boyle, which was seized in the Mediterranean by two Barbary corsairs. The frontispiece depicts a captured crewman suspended by chains and hooks being tortured on a gallows-like rigging before a crowd of armed captors. This horrific scene the title page describes as illustrating, "The Cruelty Of The Pirates, and the Sufferings of Captain Boyle and Crew." This alongside an account of the wreck of one of the corsair galleys in a storm and, "The Dreadful Effects Of A Hurricane." Printed for Thomas Tegg at 111 Cheapside and originally sold for Sixpence. Located on the frame reverse side are a $300 2013 Invoice for professional conservation for long-term preservation. Professionally framed, and displayed under special UV Plexiglas. This Imprint belongs to Tegg's popular "Mariners" series of shipwreck and captivity chapbooks issued in the early nineteenth century. Even light age tone with a vertical centerfold as issued, a small ink spot to the frontispiece in the field near center, and light wear from use.
Thomas Tegg (1776-1846) titled: “Original Account of the Desparate Engagement and Capture of the General Washington,...” Imprint:

The full title is: “Original Account of the Desperate Engagement and Capture of the General Washington, Alexander Boyle, Commander: Which was Attacked by Two Barbary Corsairs, up the Mediterranean; Also the Wreck of one of the Galleys During a Tremendous Storm; the Cruelty of the Pirates, and the Sufferings of Captain Boyle and Crew. Also, the Dreadful Effects of a Hurricane”, printed in 1804.

It belongs to the genre of American Barbary captivity narratives that flourished during the Tripolitan War (1801-1805). A related variant, Authentic Account of the Desperate Engagement between the General Washington... and Two Tripoli Pirate-Gallies, is also recorded in library catalogs (HathiTrust holds a digitized copy).

These narratives were sensational popular literature, and scholars caution that they should not be relied on as strictly factual accounts as authors often dramatized and exoticized their experiences. The Boyle/General Washington account in particular is generally regarded by bibliographers as largely or wholly fictitious, part of the wave of quasi-invented captivity chapbooks published to capitalize on public outrage over Barbary piracy.

That doesn't hurt its collectibility. If anything, these ephemeral chapbooks survived in very small numbers and are scarce today. Institutional holdings are thin; the Clements Library at Michigan, which has one of the strongest Barbary collections anywhere, holds only 13 such diverse narratives in total.
[Barbary Wars, Federal Period, Early Republic] [Maritime History, Captivity Narratives, Piracy] [Books, Imprints, Engravings, Printed Americana]