Scrimshaw Whale's Tooth, "Peace Independence and Plenty," circa 1810

Seamen in the early 1800s often created scrimshaw--engraved whale baleen, bones, or teeth usually meant as souvenirs for family and friends back home. This whale's tooth is inscribed with national symbols and a popular reinterpretation of a phrase from the Declaration of Independence. It is a clear expression of a sailor's patriotism from a time when America was new and untested.