Fine Books, Manuscripts and Works on Paper

The March auction of Fine Books, Manuscripts, and Works on Paper includes a rare and seemingly unpublished letter which is an extraordinary account of history’s most infamous maritime disaster. Commenting on the work, Deputy Chairman and International Head of Books, Rupert Powell, said “Sent by a young man to his mother in which he enthusiastically describes the opulence and magnificence of the Titanic, this letter is a rare first-hand testament to the awful tragedy which befell the ship a matter of days later. Young Thomas Mudd was only 16 years old and looking forward to joining his two brothers to start a life in America when he perished. This letter, posted from Queenstown, Ireland survived.”

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"Dear Mother & all at home. I am now taking the opportunity of sending you a few lines about how we started from Southhampton [sic]...We have been having very rough weather but the ship is so steady you would hardly know it was moving, was it not for the throbbing of the engines. We are now nearing Queenstown. The ship is like a magnificent palace. The lounge & dining hall are very beautiful. We are having excellent food. I have made friends with a young English gentleman and he is very nice indeed. The beds are very nice also with plenty of covering to keep warm also they have spring mattresses...Excuse writing as the ship is rolling a good bit. Now I must close. With love to all. I remain, your loving son Tom",

One of thirteen children, Thomas Cupper Mudd was born in Suffolk to Thomas and Elizabeth Coe Mudd of Huntingfield. Two of Thomas' older brothers had already emigrated to America by 1912. His brother James was the first to leave, sometime in 1907, settling in Radnor, Pennsylvania where he worked as a gardener, his brother George following in 1911.

Sixteen-year-old bookkeeper Thomas booked a second-class ticket aboard the maiden voyage of the Titanic for £10, 10s (ticket number S.O./P.P. 3), which set sail on 10th April 1912. He wrote this letter to his mother while onboard a day later from Queenstown, Ireland, the last port of call before the ship's fateful collision in the final hour of 14th April. Thomas Mudd perished in the sinking, and his body, if recovered, was never identified. At only 16, he was one of the youngest victims of the Titanic disaster.

Thursday 27th March, 1pm GMT
Forum Auctions, 4 Ingate Place, Battersea, London SW8 3NS
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