'Poignant' postcard sent by Titanic victim on sale

The image on the postcard was celebrating the Titanic and White Star Line's sister ship, the RMS Olympic

A postcard written from the Titanic by a man who lost his life when the ship hit an iceberg three days later will go on sale later this month.

Richard William Smith wrote to a friend in Norwich saying: "Have had a fine run around to Queenstown. Just leaving for the land of stars and stripes".

The doomed liner left from Southampton but called in at Cherbourg, France, and Queenstown - now known as Cobh - in Ireland, before setting out across the Atlantic.

Most Titanic postcards are either franked 'Queenstown' or bear the ship's own postmark, but this one was posted in Cork, making it much rarer.

As well as the poignant message, experts also point to the rarity of the Cork postmark.

Mr Smith was one of more than 1,500 people to die when the Titanic sank on 14 April 1912.

"It is an incredibly powerful and poignant message," said Andrew Aldridge, managing director of Henry Aldridge & Son, an auctioneer based in Devizes, Wiltshire.

"He had no idea of what was coming over the horizon approximately 80 hours later."

Mr Smith had travelled with family friend Emily Nicholls, who sent the card for him when she disembarked in Ireland.

It is one of more than 300 Titanic-related lots being sold at the auction, which starts at 12:00 GMT on 16 November.

'Exceptionally rare'

Mr Aldridge said he expected it to sell for between £6,000 and £10,000.

"It will be of interest to two different kinds of people: Titanic specialists, of course, but also stamp collectors who like postmarks. This one, dated 'Cork 3.45pm April 11 1912' is exceptionally rare."

The lettering in swirling ink is slightly unclear, but the card appears to be addressed to Mrs Olive Dakin of 2 Albemarle Place, Newmarket Road, Norwich.

Certainly there is still an Albemarle House on that street.

John Balls, chairman of The Norfolk Titanic Society and author of two books on the tragedy, said he remembered the postcard previously coming up for sale in the 1990s.

"There was lots of interest then and I expect there will be this time round, too," he said.

"And, of course, it may be that the publicity around the sale prompts relatives of the lady with the Norwich address to come forward."

Henry Aldridge & Son specialises in Titanic memorabilia, holding auctions twice a year.

In April it sold a gold pocket watch worn by the ship's wealthiest passenger for £900,000 - six times the asking price.