The "Nearer My God to Thee" memorial postcards are among my favorite Titanic memorabilia, but it's now time to wind down my collection and invite someone else to appreciate this card. Conceived and published almost immediately after the Titanic's sinking in 1912, it was made by Bamforth & Co. of Holmfirth, England and New York City. This is #25 in their limited series of Nearer My God postcards.
Most Titanic authorities believe that "Nearer My God to Thee" was the song the orchestra played on the White Star Line's largest cruise liner. They chose to play it as the Titanic sank into the frigid Atlantic waters on April 15th. It was reported that many passengers, knowing they would not be rescued, sang the popular hymn as their ship went down.
This postcard will buy make an excellent gift for the Titanic fan, serious collector, investor, musician or singer who appreciates the Titanic and its hymn and its place in history and popular culture today.
The condition of a postcard is important to many collectors, as important as its visual appeal, rarity, or what subject a card depicts. The fact that this particular postcard is an original and not a reproduction, of which there have been many made all the way up to today, makes it special, vintage and more real. Since its major features -- the song's lyrics and photograph with illustration, or collage of the woman mourning with the sinking Titanic and a lifeboat in the background, plus the shining cross, are visually dramatic and tragic. The card is used and completely intact. Its corners show some "bumping," the card's stock shows typical aging and there are very light minimal stains not in the way of its features or postmarked half-penny stamp. For its age, I'd say it's in pretty good shape. I want to point out a "flaw" so I've included a photo showing how the hand-franking of the stamp raised the front surface but not broken it and it seems unlikely to break through -- it's a thick card stock. Please, examine all the photos carefully. The #25 card is extremely moving and at 108+ years old, its value, in my opinion, exceeds that of average vintage postcards in similar or better condition.
I'll carefully package and send this card to one lucky buyer in a rigid container via insured USPS Priority Mail at no additional charge. This postcard is from my smoke-free, respected, large collection of Titanic memorabilia, which it is now time for me to liquidate. I hope to add more postcards to my Etsy store soon.
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-- Steve / TitanicPostcards
Product code: 1912 Original Titanic "Nearer My God to buy Thee" Memorial Song Postcard, Bamforth No. 25