Most expensive letter from Titanic-world record
set by Spink Smythe
NEW YORK, NY, USA -- A letter, dated April 10,
1912, from a first class passenger onboard the Titanic (written
by passenger George Graham of Harriston of Canada,
a sales manager for the Eaton's department store company,
to a business colleague in Berlin, Germany) was sold at auction
by Spink
Smythe in New York City for $16,100-setting the world
record for the Most
expensive letter from Titanic.
(enlarge
photo)
George Graham wrote: "I am sorry that
I neglected to send you a wire on the first of April but I
forgot 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.
(enlarge
photo)
Otherwise VG. Mr. Graham joined the Titanic at
Southampton with first-class ticket 112053 and was berthed
in cabin B-52.
On her maiden voyage the Titanic struck
a North Atlantic iceberg and sank within hours early on the
morning of April 14, 1912.
The letter in the auction was placed in the mail
from Southhampton, England just prior to the ship's departure
on April 10 for its never-completed trans-Atlantic crossing
to New York City. (enlarge
photo)
Graham did not survive the sinking.
"Hours before the ship struck an iceberg,
Graham wired his wife back in Canada saying he was well and
indicating he would be in New York City on Wednesday.
She received the wire on Tuesday morning,
when news of the disaster was on everyone's lips, and mistakenly
took it to mean her husband survived," explained Litzenberger.
"Days later she was informed his body had been
recovered from the North Atlantic."
Letters written aboard the Titanic are
among the most scarce and desirable articles connected with
the tragedy.
About Spink
Spink
is the world's leading auctioneer of coins, stamps, medals,
banknotes, bonds, share certificates and autographs, with
offices in London, Singapore, New York and Dallas.
Monday, February 23, 2009
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