Produced at branch Holloway Road in north London. USA Studios had no connection with USA whatsoever.

Madeline Astor honeymoon cabinet card, London Feb/Apr 1912

Size card: 23.4 x 14.7 cm (9.2 x 5.8 in) ☆ Thick card: 0.18 cm (1/14 in) ☆

SCARCE AS ROCKING HORSE SHIT !  "8 OFF" BUT STILL NOT SEEN ANY OTHER !

Try find another !  Amazing scarce unprecedented specialty collectible !

Titanic's wealthiest passenger was John Jacob "Jack" Astor (IV), born 13 July 1864 in Rhinebeck, New York. In 1912 he was also one of world's richest. Nov.1909 he divorced (from his first wife), very unusual at the time. JJ made things worse just almost two years later, announcing he would remarry someone else. The scandal, controversy and disapproval were complete when became clear that his new future wife, Madel(e)ine "Pookie" Talmage Force, born 19 June 1893 in Brooklyn, New York, was aged only 18, thus 29 years younger than JJ (47). Engagement was announced 1 August 1911, they married 9 September, and then started an extended honeymoon, Madeline becoming pregnant in November.

After visiting local places first, also sailing JJ's huge motor yacht Nourmahal, on 24 Jan.1912 they traveled from New York to Europe on Olympic (Titanic's elder sister ship), for a long tour throughout Egypt and then Europe: for instance Paris, Naples (French), Algiers, Italy. At the start of their return almost 3 months later they booked Titanic's "Millionaires' Cabin" and embarked in Cherbourg (France), together with JJ's valet, Madeline's maid and nurse, and JJ's dog Kitty (Airedale terrier). Madeline and her maid and her nurse survived the sinking catastrophe, JJ and his valet and dog did not. ... more

For a short biography on the person and geographer Dora Smee:  Document  (650KB JPG)  (will open in new window, then click again for full size)

3rd Class rates for Titanic were inclusive(?) railway shuttle service from London/Liverpool to Southampton.

Titanic small poster advert: Third Class prices & maiden voyage

Size: 28.5 x 20.4 cm (11.25 x 8.0 in) ☆

RARITY OFF THE CHARTS !  SPELLBINDING SPECIAL GENUINE EPIC RELIC !

Try find another !  Amazing scarce unprecedented specialty collectible !

Iconic document, advertising 3rd Class ticket rates for Titanic, with the poetic heading "The Queen of the Ocean". In early 1912 this poster would typically have been distributed as a machine stencil copy, the predecessor of the modern 'xerox' photocopy. There seems no indication of also a letterpress printed version having been produced; probably the required amount was simply too limited to justify a printing style production. Anyway, this particular authentic pre-disaster specimen appears to be a stencil copy. The black texts display cracks and separations, and most letters are quite thin (narrow), pitted, distorted. On my large digital scans, long plant fibers of rags (fabric) from cotton (most likely), linen and/or hemp are clearly visible; such components often are typical for very old paper stock (later paper stocks are made of wood pulp only). As such, contrary to antique paper from wood pulp, this poster sheet does not show any signs of brittling or stiffening. In regard to this specific small poster, over time I have come across only one other example; that one was auctioned in 2000 at Christie's NYC (see image nr 4 and 5) and later, 2020, it was auctioned at Doyle, NYC.

According to Christie's (in 2000) this document was issued to Titanic passengers as a warrant (a permit) for railway travel from London and Liverpool (see lower area of poster) to the port of Southampton. Then upon arrival, such poster may have been discarded or given away or have gone down with the ship 5 days later. By the way, although I cannot be certain, I believe the Christie's one not to be a "railway warrant" and not "printed in black ink"; to me it appears a promotional pre-sinking machine stencil copy identical to the one in my collection. 17 June 2020 the "Christie's" poster was auctioned off online at Doyle, NYC, for US$ 1100 (hammer price), providing a similar claim to Christie's that these small posterswould have served both as a railway station poster as well as a "railway warrant". Doyle also mentioned a surviving small poster issued to John "Jock" Law Hume, surviving violinist onboard Titanic. Over time I have seen this small poster of ca 28.5 x 20.4 cm (ca 11.25 x 8.0 in) also in 3 larger sizes: 34.3 x 25.4 cm (13.5 x 10.0 in); 41.5 x 29.5 cm (16.4 x 11.6 in); 44.0 x 34.0 cm (17.3 x 13.4 in). To my strong belief none of these were a fake or a reproduction, but genuine from early 1912. ... more

Extra large image (13700 x 9870):  Front (7.7MB)  Back (6.2MB)
(will open in new window, then click again for full size)

Twice in the background and also above the wording "882.5 Feet" is a small boat, for emphasizing scale.

Titanic & Olympic pre-launch advertising postcards 1910+1911

Size: 9.0 x 14.0 cm (3.5 x 5.5 in) ☆

FIRST OF BOTH VERY SCARCE !  SECOND OF BOTH RELATIVELY NOT SO MUCH !

Try find another !  Amazing scarce unprecedented specialty collectible !

Two promotional postcards issued by or authorized by White Star Line in 1910 respectively 1911; each of both in a very poor condition, but therefore in a way still or even more interesting. Besides that, the first one was just too rare and too cheap to simply let pass. Purchased together and both probably originating from the same damp attic or basement... Both cards were published before the disaster and also before the completion of both ships (which explains the image being a drawing). By the way these are the USA edition ("Cent" in stamp box); there is also the UK edition ("Penny" in stamp box). The first postcard, issued in 1910, really is much much scarcer than the second; in good condition the retail price of this quite exceedingly rare card is sometimes up to about $1,000. The second one, issued early 1911, is seen on a somewhat regular basis (still very or quite rare though); in good condition auction or retail price will be up to roughly $400 (however considerably less in many cases). Also the rarest of the post-sinking cards, of which literally countless variations have been published shortly after the sinking, often are within these same price ranges.

The second postcard has been sent, but the postage stamp is gone. The remnants of the postmark indicate that it was mailed from USA (New York). At the top is some (later) writing in uppercase, but the words are seemingly impossible to read. On the left it says "S[outhampton?]", "What do you think of our boat?!", "[1st? 2nd? 3rd?] class is ok!", "[unreadable]". On the right: "[...] S.[+?]R. [...]", "Edginswell" [Lane], "[...] Torquay", "England". Chances are great this postcard was sent by Olympic passengers; if sent by Titanic passengers, then obviously, hence the USA postmark, as survivors after arrival in New York. ☆

Focus on fate of widows, and orphans: "Who'll cry in vain for their daddy,/ Whose voice is for ever still."

Leaflet poetry "For The Kiddies' Sake", supporting Relief Fund

Size: 24.0 x 13.8 cm (9.5 x 5.5 in) ☆

NOT SEEN ANOTHER !  ULTRA RARE EXAMPLE OF NUMEROUS AID INITIATIVES !

Try find another !  Amazing scarce unprecedented specialty collectible !

Folded mourning leaflet with poem, dated 27 April 1912 (thus 12 days after the sinking). The reverse side is unprinted (blank). Layout, typography and typesetting are very stylish and professional. The poem tells about the disaster as it unfolds, and ends with asking for a donation. As stated at the bottom, proceeds from this leaflet sale were to benefit the Relief Fund (for victims' families). I had not seen this item before or since and on the internet I could not find any information about this leaflet, or the poem, or even the person (poet) Fred Daniel. Absolutely nothing came up. The same for company name with address (London) at the leaflet's bottom. Probably not too many were printed at the time (likely a local initiative), and after so many decades maybe only very few still exist today. Altogether I expect it to be extremely rare. ☆

In "RMS" and also "W.S.L." the S is actually not a true letter S, but constructed of two times a partial '3' or so.

3" bronze trade token 'TITANIC', emerged in Cherbourg (France)

Diameter: 7.6 cm (3.0 in) ☆ Thick: 0.43 cm (0.17 in) ☆ Weight: 205 gr (7.25 oz) ☆

SINGLE ONE KNOWN !  PRICELESS SUPER FASCINATING SUPERIOR ARTIFACT !

Incredible find !  Its significance & overall value can not be overstated !

On the day of departure, 10 April 1912, Titanic called at Cherbourg, France, in the early evening. The city's "le Casino de Cherbourg", built in 1864, was situated at the beach: 18 quai Alexandre III (see image nr 4, photo 1890-1905). In 1943 the building was totally destroyed by German bombing (WW2). Three years later, 1946, up until today, the casino found new residence in the city center. After the Euro (€) currency was introduced in 2002, the casino started selling off its French franc (FRF) gaming chips to collectors etc. At such occasion, in 2004-2005, this token emerged from the casino's archives. Still, it does not look like and can not be a gambling chip, simply because there was no casino on board Titanic; it looks like and can only be a trade token: a kind of coin for receiving certain goods after ordering (between parties A and B); then in return B used the token to order goods from A, or maybe cash the token at A. It is unknown how long the casino had owned this object. Who knows, maybe long ago in Cherbourg someone thought it to be a casino token and subsequently the trade token came into possession of the city's casino.

Because of its very warm color the metal definitely is bronze and not brass (which is much more yellow). The alternating dark and light patina with some pitted areas is indicative of very old age. Quite striking is the precision in the circumference "chain": the distribution of 8's on both sides is very consistent, as are the adjacent dots. To me this precision and consistency is clear evidence of highly skilled and highly experienced craftmanship. Furthermore there are numerous tiny angular punches all over both surfaces, seemingly applied with some serration tool. The narrow side has stamped dots, with a single X-mark. ... more

This postcard was edited, typeset, printed and mailed within 5.5 days after the Titanic sinking catastrophe.

Postcard recruiting salesmen for book 'The Sinking of the etc.'

Size: 7.9 x 14.0 cm (3.1 x 5.5 in) ☆

SCARCE AS A QUEER TOMCAT !  NEVER SEEN ANOTHER !  MIND BOGGLING !

Try find another !  Amazing scarce unprecedented specialty collectible !

Issued by Universal Book And Bible House, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Presumably not "just" very, but extremely rare mailing card for the recruiting of salesmen and -women for house-to-house sales of the then still to be published book "The Sinking of the Titanic and Great Sea Disasters" compiled by Logan Marshall (see sample image nr 4). This 1912 publication was and still is the most famous and possibly most printed book on the Titanic disaster. What made the book (also) stand out were the exclusively documented witness accounts by survivors. This postcard was mailed to a person "(I.? J.? F.?) Pennington" in Atkins, VA, USA. The datestamp is (Saturday) 20 April 1912, 6:30pm; thus the card produced A to Z and mailed within 5.5 days after the news on Titanic's sinking of Monday early morning began spreading! Still, the text is well written, professionally creative, yet rather unashamed in its eager commercial approach: "Magnificent Opportunity for Money Making", "[...] and you will reap the rich reward". ☆

French liner SS Normandie, utmost luxurious, maiden voyage in 1935, was 11% larger (longer) than Titanic.

Superb photo booth portrait: SS Normandie and super cute girl

Size: 8.6 x 6.3 cm (3.4 x 2.5 in) ☆

BARELY TITANIC RELATED BUT JUST TOO GREAT A SCENE TO SIMPLY IGNORE !

Try find another !  Amazing scarce unprecedented specialty collectible !

Have you ever seen such an adorable little girl (photographed)?! Photo portraits do not get much better than this. And it is only a plain and simple photo booth style capture. A very small print, slightly larger than credit card. Several aspects come together, making this a great photograph: the girl's physique and appearance; she being small compared to image frame and backdrop ship; she as a toddler unable to sit still (arm and hand blurred, leg swinging); her holding a purse (women's handbag) so it seems; her completely neutral facial expression; her dress, shoes/boots, and hair (just combed) with bow. Most probably she is keeping eye contact with her mother and/or grandmother (read further).

The ship in the background painting almost certainly is the French ocean liner Normandie and not the quite similar looking Queen Mary (1). In terms of unequalled luxury Normandie was the "Titanic" of her time, and in service from 1935 until – only – 1942. That year she caught fire heavily while being converted into a troopship, and, shortly after WW2, was then scrapped in 1946. Normandie had completed 139 westbound transatlantic crossings from home port Le Havre to New York. The rendering of the famed ship in the photo booth backdrop is not very accurate; for instance Normandie's 3 smoke stacks are drawn too high. Possibly, or perhaps likely, the girl was photographed in a photo store/studio at the port (area) of either Paris or New York, on the occasion of a transatlantic voyage. ... more