TITANIC POSTCARD IS CAUSING GLOBAL STIR

A RARE postcard sent by a survivor of the Titanic disaster looks set to
go down a storm at a South Derbyshire auctioneer's autumn sale.

The relic has already stirred global interest from collectors and is
expected to fetch hundreds of pounds when it goes under the hammer with
Hansons Auctioneers and Valuers Ltd.
 
Discovered during a routine valuation of contents, the artefact was
written by a crewman two years after the ill-fated voyage and reads:
"Dear all, just a line to let you know that I am still living."
 
On the front is a picture of Titanic, the 'unsinkable' vessel which
infamously sunk on April 14, 1912, after hitting an iceberg, leaving
1,635 passengers and crew members to perish.
  Auctioneers are now carrying out research into whether the person
who sent the postcard was a passenger or crew member on the ill-fated
liner.
 
Charles Hanson, owner of the Etwall-based firm and a resident antiques
expert on BBC1's Bargain Hunt, said: "We are still in the depth of
research to substantiate the exact part played by the individual on
board Titanic.
 
"What we know, so well, is that on April 14 ,1912, at 11.40pm, the boat
struck an iceberg about 400 miles off Newfoundland, Canada.
  "Less than three hours later, it plunged to the bottom of the sea
and only a fraction of her passengers were saved.
  "The world was stunned to learn of the fate of the unsinkable
Titanic. It carried some of the richest, most powerful industrialists of
her day."
  Also in the sale will be a postcard of Titanic from before the
tragedy, with both lots expected to generate widespread interest among
American collectors in particular.
 
Hansons' autumn fine art sale will take place on October 5 and 6 at the
Seedy Mill Golf and Country Club at Elmhurst, near Lichfield, with
viewing between 10am and 8pm on October 4.
 
More information is available by calling 01283 733 988 or visiting
www.hansonsauctioneers.co.uk