The bow of the Titanic, submerged for 105 years -
LILO / SIPA
A postcard written by the
Titanic's
radio communications manager
is on sale via online auction until April 14.
A photo of the famous ship appears on the front of the object of 7.5 cm by 14, specifies the auction house RR Auction on its site.
On the back, John George Phillips, aka Jack Philipps, signed his handwritten note "Love, Jack".
The bids could exceed $ 15,000 (around 12,600 euros).
Titanic postcard signed 'Love, Jack' set to fetch more than $ 15K at auction https://t.co/Ab3KABOY3f via @nypost
- Mike Graff (@mikegraffpr) April 7, 2021
Known for his heroic behavior
The message is addressed to Elsie Phillips, the sister of the radio operator.
The latter writes that he is “very busy, works late.
I hope to arrive in [Southampton] on Wednesday afternoon.
I hope you are doing pretty well ”.
The stamp shows that the postcard was sent on March 7, 1912 from Belfast (United Kingdom).
The
Titanic
was built in this city and baptized on May 31, 1911 before its first sea trip on April 2, 1912.
John George Phillips celebrated 25 years on board on the ship's maiden voyage.
He is known for his heroic behavior during the shipwreck.
As the liner sank, he remained at his post to send distress messages in order to save as many passengers as possible.
The operator only left the
Titanic
when the water level forced him to do so.
He froze to death on the bottom of a capsized lifeboat.
One copy of a special edition
The postcard is a copy in good condition of a special edition released to celebrate the baptism of the liner.
John's sister George Phillips kept the 300 or so postcards sent to her by her brother.
Bobby Livingston, executive vice president of RR Auction, told CNN that five of them mentioned the
Titanic
, only two of which were written on a card depicting the famous liner.
Chance or not, the first name used to sign the message is reminiscent of Jack Dawson, the character played by Leonardo DiCaprio in the James Cameron film.
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