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Spink Smythe is pleased to offer a wonderful set of letters and other items related to the RMS Titanic as part of our January Collector's Series Sale. The tragedy of the RMS Titanic was a media sensation at the time and has become an enduring cultural memory from the early 20th century. Built to be the unsinkable crown jewel of transatlantic luxury travel, she struck an iceberg on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York, with stops in Cherbourg and Cobh (then known as Queenstown). Sinking in less than three hours, she took with her 1517 of her 2223 passengers and crew, most of whom died of hypothermia in the frigid waters off Nova Scotia.
Highlighting the set are two letters written by passengers whilst they were aboard the ship. Letters from passengers aboard the Titanic are extremely rare and are justly among the most prized artifacts from the disaster.
Lot 3439. An excellent Autograph Letter Signed by perfumer "Adolf" Saalfeld, 1 p, 8vo, on stationery imprinted with the White Star Line red banner and the words "On board R.M.S. 'Titanic'," April 4, 1912.
He writes in full, "Dear [Wifey?], Thanks for your letter. I just had an hours roaming abt. on this wonderful boat together with Paul. I like my cabin [C-106] very much. It is like a bed-sitting room & rather large. I am the first man to write a letter on board, they are still busy to finish the last touches onboard. Au revoir in Whitweek please God! Love to you all! And a Kiss for you!"
Closed tear through left of page near horizontal fold repaired on verso with Scotch tape. Light toning, some soiling and edge wear, otherwise VG. Saalfeld would survive the disaster, leaping into lifeboat 3, filled with women and children. Perfume samples he had hoped to bring to start a business in the United States went down with the ship, but have, incredibly, survived and were retrieved by divers in 2000. Saalfeld died in Kew Gardens, England, in 1926. It is unclear who Paul was, though he does not appear to match anyone on the passenger lists and was therefore likely to have gone ashore before the ship sailed. Letters from passengers aboard the Titanic are extremely rare and are justly among the most prized artifacts from the disaster.
Estimate: $10,000-$15,000
Lot 3440. A remarkable Autograph Letter Signed "Geo. Graham," 1-1/2 pp, 12mo, on stationery imprinted with the White Star Line's red banner and the words "On board R.M.S. 'Titanic'," [Southampton, England], 4/10/1912. A salesman for Eaton's, the Canadian department store, he writes to Mr. W. Depmeyer in Berlin, a colleague he had apparently met during the European business trip from which he was returning.
He pens, "I am sorry that I neglected to send you a wire on the first of April but I for got [sic] all about it until Tuesday, you see. I arrived in London Late Sunday and I was very busy all day Monday and I forgot all about it however. I hope that you will accept my good wishes now even if they are a bit late. I hope to see you next year and that you and your good wife will enjoy good health..."
Second page folds closed to form a postal cover with White Star's logo on verso of cover and a 2-1/2 penny stamp on the address leaf. Uneven toning to first page and address page from prior display. Four plastic tape remnants on verso of first page and five on recto of second page, all at edges and none affecting readability. Otherwise VG. Mr. Graham joined the Titanic at Southampton with first-class ticket 112053 and was berthed in cabin B-52. On the night of Sunday, April 14, hours before the ship struck an iceberg, Graham wired his wife back in Canada that she should send him a telegram at Sandy Hook, NJ when they arrived the following Wednesday, and that he was well. She received the news on Tuesday morning, when the sinking was on everyone's lips, and took it to mean her husband had survived. It was not until she was about to depart for New York to meet him that she was informed that his body had been recovered in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic. Letters written aboard the Titanic are among the most scarce and desirable articles connected with the tragedy.
Estimate: $10,000-$15,000
To bid on these lots and others, click here to view the online catalog.
For inquiries contact:
Robert Litzenberger, Autographs & Americana Specialist at
rlitzenberger@spinsmythek.com
To order your all-color catalog of this sale contact us at 800-622-1880 or info@spinksmythe.com |
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