Auction Date:2012 Apr 21 @ 12:00 (UTC+1)
Location:38 Molesworth Street, Dublin, Dublin, ., Ireland
10 by 8 in.
Manuscript on 'Post Office Telegraphs' headed paper, with date and receiving office stamp "Belfast Apr 15. 12" stating"White Star Liner Titanic wh. Reuters states is sinking in mid Atlantic as result of collision wi iceberg left Southampton last Wedy. on maiden voyage to New York. Titanic is largest vessel afloat having tonnage of 46,382 or 1004 more than Olympic. She has lgth of 882 feet wi ninety two feet breadth & was luxuriously fitted up wi especial regard to requirements o wealthy Americans"This unique and historically important telegram was sent by the Press Association (as indicated by "P.A." in ms at top of the form) to the Belfast Evening Telegraph and received by journalist Robert (Bob) McComb. The date stamp bears the date of 15 April 1912, the day on which the Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean, and the time is written as 10.39 (presumably morning, and as receipt in Belfast), about three hours after the ship had sunk) making this document the first notification of the ship's sinking and allowing the newspaper to be one of the first to break the news of the Titanic.It is difficult to comprehend the disbelief and shock which must have greeted this telegram as it arrived at the offices of the Telegraph, the largest selling newspaper in Titanic's home city of Belfast. The news which the telegram gives reflects the fragmented and sparse nature of the initial information which filtered back to Ireland relating to the fate of the world's most famous ship. This telegram allowed the Telegraph to achieve the amazing feat of breaking the Titanic news on the same day as the sinking. Their dramatic headline was paraphrased from the content of the telegram and read "The Titanic Sinking ". The desperation for more information would have clearly permeated throughout the offices of the newspaper and Bob McComb was gifted this important document as a reminder of one of the most shocking moments, not only in his career, but also in the history of Belfast.McComb was one of the Telegraph's most celebrated and legendary journalists. He began working for the newspaper while it was under the management of Sir Robert Baird and was aged 41 and working as sub-editor in 1912. He served a total of 34 years on the staff of the Telegraph and was later described as having "covered some of the biggest news stories of his time, his resourcefulness when on an assignment was almost legendary". There would be few stories 'bigger' than that of Titanic.Bob McComb died in May 1932 but his preservation of this historically important document insured its survival over the passing of 100 years, which is remarkable given its fragility. It serves as a tangible link between the events of a century ago and a city which spent three years creating the world's most famous ship, only to receive this telegram and news of its demise, with terrible loss of life, two weeks after seeing it leave.
Auction Location:
38 Molesworth Street, Dublin, Dublin, ., Ireland
Previewing Details:
At our galleries
38 Molesworth Street
Dublin 2
Wednesday 18 April 10am to 6pm
Thursday 19 April 10am to 6pm
Friday 20 April 10am to 6pm
Saturday 21 April 9am to 11.30am
Buyer's Premiums:
| From (Incl.) | To (Excl.) | Premium |
| 0.00 |
Infinite |
20% |
Additional Fees:
Shipping Details:
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38 Molesworth Street,
Dublin 2