Postcard from A Danish Passenger Aboard the Titanic – Historic Collector’s Item up for Auction

At Bruun Rasmussen's anniversary auction on 27 November, we turn our attention to a historic moment at sea. We can present a postcard sent by the Dane Jacob Christian Milling to his wife in Odense only a few hours before the "unsinkable" RMS Titanic set out from the southern coast of England.

The original, handwritten postcard had the date 10 April 1912 stamped on it and was sent by the machine inspector Jacob Christian Milling (1863-1912). Milling was one of 13 Danes on aboard the Titanic on the ship's fateful maiden voyage across the Atlantic. Milling was employed at "Sydfyenske Jernbaner” (Southern Fyn Railways) and highly respected for his knowledge and his ability to construct locomotive parts. In 1912, he was granted leave for a two-month paid study tour in the United States. Milling was one of the 1490 passengers who did not survive the maritime disaster on the night between 14 and 15 April 1912.

“There are no other known covers, documents or records from Danes aboard the Titanic available on the free market, and the postcard here can, therefore, be regarded as an important document, which functions as a vivid reminder for many people of the historic disaster,” says Christian Grundtvig, Head of Bruun Rasmussen’s Stamp Department.

Writing With a View of the Mighty Ship

Milling wrote the postcard to his wife, Augusta, and it was sent on the morning of Milling’s departure, where he was waiting with excitement in his hotel room at the South Western Hotel in Southhampton with a view of the mighty ship from his window. The words on the postcard are as follows (translated from Danish):

"Dear Augusta! This is the last thing you will hear from me from this side of the Atlantic. I may send a wireless if it is not too expensive. I am staying at Banen’s Hotel, it’s not cheap but comfortable. From my window, I can see the ship in the dock. How are the old folks? Send them and the children my greetings. Many greetings to all of you. From Jacob.”

A few days later (14 April) he sent the "Wireless" telegram mentioned in the postcard from the ship. He stated in a pre-arranged code (ABANAPAS) that everything was fine: "All is well, calm weather, the ship is fine, I am enjoying myself, good travel companions, a wonderful trip".

Milling Perished in the Ice-cold Waters

The telegram reached Augusta at the couple’s address in Odense only a few hours after Milling had perished in the ice-cold Atlantic Ocean. Milling was found as body #271 and taken to Halifax, Canada, from where he was shipped out via Boston on board the "C.F. Tietgen" and sent to Copenhagen on 16 May 1912. Jacob Milling was buried at the Assistens Cemetery in the centre of Copenhagen on 3 June 1912.

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