The Sinking of the S.S. Titanic April 14-15, 1912
Philadelphia: Privately Printed, 1940. 1st Edition. 8vo. Very Good. Item #16191
A striking 1st Edition copy of this extremely scarce piece of Titanic history, signed twice by the author, one of the few survivors.
1st Limited Edition, this being #343 of just 500 copies signed by John Thayer on the limitation page. Additionally inscribed by him to previous owner on the front free endpaper: "To Warren W. Wells with best regards from John B. Thayer".
A personal account by a survivor who was 17 at the time of the Titanic's sinking, and one of the 40 or so people who fell off or jumped into the water and was able to survive. This book is dedicated to his father, also named John, who was not so lucky to survive the disaster.
The author was returning to Haverford School outside of Philadelphia from Cherbourg confident in his plans to attend Princeton and then to become a commercial or private banker in the United States. Thayer wrote in his 1940 Preface "that the disaster about to occur was the event, which not only made the world rub its eyes and awake, but woke it with a start, keeping it moving at a rapidly accelerating pace ever since, with less and less peace, satisfaction, and happiness."
This account was key in assisting a later researcher in determining the exact location of the Titanic's demise, as well as in determining that the boat split in two before sinking, contradicting conventional wisdom.
Gilt stamping on front green cloth cover. Square tight binding. Clean interior. Mild, very sporadic foxing.
A scarce, very desirable piece of Titanic history.
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