1885 America's Cup: Puritan versus Genesta

We would like to thank Gregg Dietrich for his assistance cataloging the present lot:

The 1885 America’s Cup pitted Puritan a 94-foot cutter designed by Edward Burgess of Boston against Genesta, designed by J. Beavor Webb and owned by Sir Richard Sutton. This was the closest match yet, with Genesta winning the first race after her mainsail was punctured by Puritan’s lengthy bowsprit. However, Sutton, a noted sportsman, asked that the race be dismissed, not wanting to claim such an easy victory. Puritan then won the next two races, but the second one was the closest race to date: 1 minute, 30 seconds.