The Titanic sinking telegram is estimated at 20,000-30,000. (Click on image to enlarge). UPDATE: THIS FAILED TO SELL.
A telegram alerting the Belfast Evening Telegraph to the Titanic disaster will be sold at Whyte’s in Dublin on April 21. Dated April 15, 1912 it reads: “White Star Liner Titanic wh. Reuters states is sinking in mid Atlantic as result of collision wi iceberg left Southampton last Wedy. on maiden voyage to New York. Titanic is largest vessel afloat having tonnage of 46,382 or 1004 more than Olympic. She has lgth of 882 feet wi ninety two feet breadth & was luxuriously fitted up wi especial regard to requirements o wealthy Americans”.
On paper headed ‘Post Office Telegraphs’ it was sent by the Press Association (indicated by P.A. on the top of the form). It was received by journalist Robert (Bob) McComb, whose newspaper was one of the first to break the news of the sinking.
The Whyte’s catalogue notes point out: It is difficult to comprehend the disbelief and shock which must have greeted this telegram as it arrived at the offices of the Telegraph, the largest selling newspaper in Titanic’s home city of Belfast. The news which the telegram gives reflects the fragmented and sparse nature of the initial information which filtered back to Ireland relating to the fate of the world’s most famous ship. This telegram allowed the Telegraph to achieve the amazing feat of breaking the Titanic news on the same day as the sinking”. Bob McComb served 34 years on staff of the Telegraph and received the historic telegram as a gift on his retirement. The Belfast Evening Telegraph published the breaking story in its second edition that afternoon, Monday, April 15, 1912, the first media coverage in Europe of the disaster. The headlines read: “The Titanic Sinking; Collision with Iceberg; Disastrous Maiden Voyage; Women Removed to Lifeboats; Liners Hastening to the Rescue; Wireless Messages Come to Abrupt Termination; Over 2,000 Souls on Board”. Only 710 of the 2,224 people on board survived. Of those who died 79 were Irish emigrants who boarded the ship on April 11 at Queenstown (now Cobh), Co Cork, on its last stop en route to New York.
UPDATE: THIS FAILED TO SELL.