An incredible and rare collection of photos and handwritten letters acquired from the decendants of Titanic survivors John and Nelle Pillsbury Snyder will go on auction Friday Oct. 21.
The Snyders were some of the first people to board lifeboats and were later rescued by the Carpathia, the first ship to arrive at the Titanic disaster scene on the morning of April 15, 1912. They were returning from their honeymoon when the tragedy struck.
The Snyders lived in Minneapolis, Minn., and were first class passengers on the ship, occupying cabin B-45. They were rescued on lifeboat 7.
The photos, however, were actually taken by newlyweds James and Mabel Fenwick who chose the Cunard Line's Carpathia for their voyage. They were to have a front-row seat to history. Copies of their original photos were then passed along to the Snyders.
The collection will be sold by Philip Weiss Auctions. The archive includes a letter on Titanic stationary dated April 10, 1912, photos of the Snyders, another Letter dated April 18, which tells of the confusion from news sources and the White Star Line at the time of the sinking, a group of original photos taken from the Carpathia showing lifeboats rowing toward the ship, and other original photos of what appears to be the Californian steaming towards the Carpathia.
The current minimum bid is $36,000.
Press Start to view the incredible photos.
This letter is a haunting example of a first hand account of the sinking of the Titanic and its aftermath. (Page 4 of 4)
A handwritten letter dated April 24, 1912, from John Snyder to his father, Frank. "We were both asleep when the boat hit...When we reached the top deck only a few people were about and we all were told to go down & put on our life belts...We were almost the very first people placed in the Lifeboat. Only a very few people were on deck at the time and they thought it much safer to stay on the big boat than to try the life boat."
He goes on to describe how once in the lifeboats, they could see from afar the boat sinking.
"Finally the bow went under - that the finest boat in the world was doomed - we hit between 11:40 & 11:50 and the Titanic sunk at 2:22 in the morning."Philip Weiss AuctionsAn original 3" x 5 1/2" photo taken from the deck of the Carpathia.Philip Weiss AuctionsDated April 18, 1912, a typed letter from John Snyder's father Frank to his brother Fred details the aftermath of the historic incident from his perspective. (Page 2 of 2)Philip Weiss AuctionsDated April 18, 1912, a typed letter from John Snyder's father Frank to his brother Fred details the aftermath of the historic incident from his perspective. (Page 1 of 2)Philip Weiss AuctionsSurvivors from the Titanic are seen in a lifeboat rowing toward the rescue ship the Carpathia.Philip Weiss AuctionsA letter on Titanic stationary dated April 10, 1912, written by Mr. Snyder to the proprietor of a London tobacco shop where Mr. Snyder purchased cigars before boarding the ship. "While I sit here at the writing desk peacefully and complacently smoking 'one of your best,' I just want to thank you ..."Philip Weiss AuctionsAn original photo taken from the deck of the Carpathia shows another rescue ship, the S. S. Californian, approaching.Philip Weiss AuctionsAn original "3 x 5 1/2" photo, taken from the deck of the Carpathia shows an iceberg in the distance.Philip Weiss AuctionsAn original "3 x 5 1/2" photo, taken from the deck of the Carpathia, shows the icy ocean.Philip Weiss AuctionsSurvivors of the Titanic are seen in lifeboats rowing toward the rescue ship the Carpathia.Philip Weiss AuctionsThis letter is a haunting example of a first hand account of the sinking of the Titanic and its aftermath. (Page 3 of 4)
A handwritten letter dated April 24, 1912, from John Snyder to his father, Frank. "We were both asleep when the boat hit...When we reached the top deck only a few people were about and we all were told to go down & put on our life belts...We were almost the very first people placed in the Lifeboat. Only a very few people were on deck at the time and they thought it much safer to stay on the big boat than to try the life boat."
He goes on to describe how once in the lifeboats, they could see from afar the boat sinking.
"Finally the bow went under - that the finest boat in the world was doomed - we hit between 11:40 & 11:50 and the Titanic sunk at 2:22 in the morning."Philip Weiss AuctionsThis letter is a haunting example of a first hand account of the sinking of the Titanic and its aftermath. (Page 2 of 4)
A handwritten letter dated April 24, 1912, from John Snyder to his father, Frank. "We were both asleep when the boat hit...When we reached the top deck only a few people were about and we all were told to go down & put on our life belts...We were almost the very first people placed in the Lifeboat. Only a very few people were on deck at the time and they thought it much safer to stay on the big boat than to try the life boat."
He goes on to describe how once in the lifeboats, they could see from afar the boat sinking.
"Finally the bow went under - that the finest boat in the world was doomed - we hit between 11:40 & 11:50 and the Titanic sunk at 2:22 in the morning."Philip Weiss AuctionsThis letter is a haunting example of a first hand account of the sinking of the Titanic and its aftermath. (Page 1 of 4)
A handwritten letter dated April 24, 1912, from John Snyder to his father, Frank. "We were both asleep when the boat hit...When we reached the top deck only a few people were about and we all were told to go down & put on our life belts...We were almost the very first people placed in the Lifeboat. Only a very few people were on deck at the time and they thought it much safer to stay on the big boat than to try the life boat."
He goes on to describe how once in the lifeboats, they could see from afar the boat sinking.
"Finally the bow went under - that the finest boat in the world was doomed - we hit between 11:40 & 11:50 and the Titanic sunk at 2:22 in the morning."Philip Weiss AuctionsAn original 3" x 5 1/2" photo, taken from the deck of the Carpathia, shows the icy ocean.Philip Weiss AuctionsAn original photo taken from the deck of the Carpathia shows another rescue ship, the S. S. Californian, approaching.Philip Weiss AuctionsAn original photo taken from the deck of the Carpathia shows another rescue ship, the S. S. Californian, approaching.Philip Weiss AuctionsA photo of John and Nellie Snyder taken April 18, 1912, the day they disembarked the Carpathia.Philip Weiss Auctions
