Postcard Written Days Before Titanic’s Sinking Fetches $25,300 at Auction

A postcard penned by British businessman Richard William Smith, a first-class passenger on the Titanic, has sold for £20,000 ($25,300) at auction. Written on April 11, 1912, just three days before the ship’s fateful collision with an iceberg, the artifact captures a poignant snapshot of life on board the “unsinkable” vessel.

A Glimpse Into the Past

Who Was Richard William Smith?

Richard William Smith was a tea merchant representing London-based Reinach, Nephew & Co. when he boarded the Titanic on April 10, 1912, in Southampton.

Smith was traveling alone to New York, though he shared part of the journey with Emily Nicholls, a family friend. The two spent time together during the voyage’s early days, from Southampton to Cherbourg, France, and onward to Queenstown (now Cobh), Ireland.

Speculation: A photograph taken by Titanic passenger Francis Browne may depict Smith and Nicholls walking along the A-Deck Promenade, though this remains unconfirmed.

The Final Postcard

The Message

As the Titanic briefly stopped in Queenstown on April 11, Smith handed a postcard to Nicholls, asking her to mail it from Ireland. Addressed to Olive Dakin, a woman in Norwich, England, the note struck a cheerful tone:

“Have had a fine run around to Queenstown. Just leaving for the land of stars and stripes.”

A Journey Cut Short

While Nicholls disembarked in Queenstown and mailed the postcard as promised, Smith remained aboard. On the night of April 14, the Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic, sinking in the early hours of April 15. Smith, among 1,500 passengers and crew who perished, was never recovered.

The Auction

A Historic Sale

Smith’s postcard was part of an auction held by Henry Aldridge & Son on November 16, 2024. Initially expected to sell for between £6,000 and £10,000 ($7,600 to $12,700), the postcard exceeded expectations, fetching £20,000 ($25,300).

Other Titanic Artifacts

The auction also featured a range of Titanic-related items, including:

Photographs taken aboard the ship.
A pocket watch recovered from a passenger.
A commemorative watch gifted to Captain Arthur Henry Rostron of the RMS Carpathia, the vessel that rescued Titanic survivors.

A Haunting Artifact

More than 112 years after the Titanic tragedy, Richard William Smith’s postcard offers a tangible connection to the past. Its cheery tone contrasts sharply with the devastating events that followed, serving as a poignant reminder of the lives lost in one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters.