A poignant piece of history from the ill-fated Titanic is set to go under the hammer this month—a postcard written by a passenger who would later perish in the disaster.
Penned by Richard William Smith, the postcard provides a glimpse into the optimism and excitement of travelers before tragedy struck.
The card, bearing a rare Cork postmark, is expected to attract considerable interest when auctioned by Henry Aldridge & Son on November 16.
In his message, Smith, who was bound for America on the RMS Titanic, shared his anticipation in reaching “the land of stars and stripes.”
Addressed to a friend, Mrs. Olive Dakin in Norwich, the postcard reads: “Have had a fine run around to Queenstown. Just leaving for the land of stars and stripes. Hope you are all quite well at home. Kind regards, RWS.”
The Titanic set sail from Southampton on April 10, 1912, stopping briefly in Cherbourg, France, and Queenstown—now known as Cobh—in Ireland.
Smith’s postcard is notable not only for its heartfelt message but also for its Cork postmark, a feature that distinguishes it from most Titanic postcards, which either bear the Queenstown postmark or the ship’s own mark.
This detail adds a layer of rarity that experts believe will heighten its value among collectors. Andrew Aldridge, managing director of Henry Aldridge & Son, described the postcard as a “powerful and poignant message.”
He noted that Smith, like many other passengers, had no inkling of the disaster that would unfold just three days later, on April 14, 1912, when the ship struck an iceberg. Smith was one of over 1,500 passengers and crew who perished in the North Atlantic.
The postcard’s anticipated sale price is between £6,000 and £10,000, and it is expected to appeal to both Titanic historians and stamp collectors, according to Aldridge.
“This one, dated ‘Cork 3.45 pm April 11 1912,’ is exceptionally rare and will be of interest to two different kinds of people: Titanic specialists, of course, but also stamp collectors who appreciate unique postmarks,” he added.
Accompanying Smith on the voyage was family friend Emily Nicholls, who posted the card for him when she disembarked in Ireland.
According to John Balls, chairman of The Norfolk Titanic Society, the card first appeared at auction in the 1990s, attracting significant interest.
Balls expressed hope that the upcoming sale might prompt relatives of Mrs. Dakin, Smith’s friend and the postcard’s recipient, to come forward.
Henry Aldridge & Son, a Devizes-based auction house known for its Titanic memorabilia auctions, has a track record of record-breaking sales.
Earlier this year, the auction house sold a gold pocket watch belonging to the Titanic’s wealthiest passenger for £900,000—six times its initial estimate.
The postcard is one of over 300 Titanic-related items that will be on offer at the upcoming auction, which begins at 12:00 GMT on November 16.
Each artifact, according to Aldridge, serves as a “powerful reminder” of the human stories linked to the Titanic and its passengers’ ill-fated journey.
