Carved wooden ditty box from sloop HERO, 1820. Inscribed "L. B. Stonington 1820 Slp. HERO". Hinged lid; carved, pierced designs on lid and all sides; lid and box sides lines with red wool, bottom lines with wide wale beige fabric. Only known relic of the famous 1820 Antarctic voyage of Mystic-built sloop HERO (Capt. Nathaniel B. Palmer), except for original log, now in Nat'l Archives in Washington. 1814 HERO gained distinction for her exploits as privateer in War of 1812.
