Maps for the passengers

[Beckey Payne]

While reading the Margaret Brown bio last night I came across a reference to a brochure or pamphlet given to first class passengers to help them find thier way around the ship. Would anyone know more about this item? What they looked like, was it just a map or was there printed information about the parts of the ship that might be of special interest to passengers, etc? Are there any in existance today or reproductions?

Beckey

 

[Kyrila Scully]

I have one that was included in a box full of reproductions that I bought at Walden's a couple of years ago. The box is made to loosely resemble a steamer trunk. It's blue with yellow labeling. THS sells them at the premium price but occasionally you can find them cheaper on Ebay or at bookstores.

Kyrila Scully

 

[Michael H. Standart]

The same set of plans of the First Class accomadations and public rooms was provided in Geoffrey Marcus's "Maiden Voyage" Of the originals, only two are known to survive. The same plans are reproduced in Susan Wels "Titanic. Legacy of the Worlds Greatest Ocean Liner" on pages 192 to 195.

Cordially,
Michael H. Standart

 

[Daniel Klistorner]

Mike,

I read somewhere that 3 are known to exists, and indeed this must be so. The one saved by that steward who gave his copy to Lawrence Beesley, then there's Fr. Browne's one and the one reproduced in the "Legacy" book. There could be more, but these are the ones I can account for.

Daniel.

 

[Eric Sauder]

Mike and Daniel:

If you're referring to the March, 1912, version of the Titanic deck plan, I know of at least five that survive. Of course, there are more than that of the December, 1911 plan.

Eric Sauder

 

[Steve Santini]

Hello,
I also have an original Titanic 1st class deck plan. On the front "panel" of my plan, when it is folded, there appears,(in addition to "White Star Line","R.M.S.Titanic", and other wording), the date of 6/1/12. I take it to mean that my plan was printed on Jan 6th, 1912. I do know that Stan Lehrer has 3 versions of this plan including the last version produced in March of 1912. I am unaware of another Titanic 1st class deck plan dated Jan. 1912 besides mine. Just thought I would throw my deck plan into the fray. There are certainly a tad few more out there than most people think but they still are extraordinarily rare. I have one, Stan has 3 different date versions, THS has one, and ocean liner Ken Schultz bought one at the last Christie's auction sale to feature Titanic items. The one bought by Schultz was in poor condition but it was indeed authentic. So, it total, it would appear that at the present time there are a total of 6 authentic Titanic 1st class deck plans known to exist in the world. Of course, there may be more, but, if there are, they have yet to be "discovered". Kind regards, Steve Santini

 

[Steve Santini]

Dear Eric,
I was amazed to read your post where you mentioned there were 5 of the March deck plans known to exist! Stan has always insisted his is the only March plan and that it is unique in that it features ,(unlike other prvious plans), the position of every deck chair on the vessel. Can you please tell me; have you ever encountered a plan like mine which is dated Jan 1912 on it's front panel? Of course, just because my plan has that date on it's front, it may just mean that that date is when my plan was printed. In design and substance, my plan is probably identical to the Dec, 1911 plan. Is the date we are applying to these plans based on the printer's date , or, is the date we are assigning based on the date printed on the drawing side of the plan itself? Please let me know your thoughts on this Eric. Thank you in advance. Steve Santini.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

I think it was Susan Wels who put the number at three. It would seem a few more have been accounted for since then. I wonder if some more are burtied in some old family papers somewhere waiting to be discovered.

Cordially,
Michael H. Standart

 

[George Behe]

Hi, Steve!

I'm pretty sure the March plan in my collection is one of the five that Eric was referring to.

All my best,

George

 

[Lester Mitcham]

Michael,

You say that: The same set of plans of the First Class accommodations and public rooms was provided in Geoffrey Marcus' "Maiden Voyage"
I have seen several hard copies of the book; but never one with deck plans. Please advise which edition contained the Plans.
Lester

 

[Eric Sauder]

Hi, George:

Thanks very much for weighing in on this. Your deck plan is included in my count, but I didn't want to annouce to the world that you have one without your permission.

Steve:

"I also have an original Titanic 1st class deck plan. ...when it is folded, there appears...the date of 6/1/12. I take it to mean that my plan was printed on Jan 6th, 1912."

Might be. I know that much Cunard printed material is coded with a date, but not as specific as the actual printing date, usually only the month and year of issue. When you open your plan, is there no date on the lower left-hand corner as with the December, 1911, and March, 1912, plans? If not, it's very interesting that it isn't dated on the inside.

"Is the date we are applying to these plans based on the printer's date , or, is the date we are assigning based on the date printed on the drawing side of the plan itself?"

I have always used the date printed on the drawing side of the plan to denote which plan I'm talking about.

Regards,

Eric Sauder

 

[Steve Santini]

Hi Eric,
Thank you for the response. My plan does indeed have the date of Dec 1911 in the lower left hand corner (when opened). I have always believed that the date on the front panel, (when closed), and, in this case 6/1/12, meant that my particular plan was printed on the 6th of January, 1912. I appreciate your thoughts on this matter. Regards, Steve Santini.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

Lester, the edition I have is a hardcover. If you have a paperback, the reproduction might not come with it. The brochure/First Class deck plans came as a foldout which was in the pocket of the inside back cover.

Nice plans too.

Cordially,
Michael H. Standart

 

[Mike Herbold]

"The Maiden Voyage" edition I have is the original 1969 hardback version with the pocket on the inside back cover. The PLAN OF FIRST CLASS ACCOMMODATION in the pocket folds out to 30"h x 39.75"w and is identical to the 17"x22" poster that the Titanic Historical Society sells (their item 271) for $15.00. The date in the Marcus book and on the THS poster is December 1911. Is this the same thing you were talking about George?

 

[Lester Mitcham]

Thanks guys,

The copy I have and the ones I have seen are 1969 Hardback editions, published by George Allen and Unwin Ltd. None give any sign of having had a pocket on the inside back cover; neither is there any mention in the Contents page of any Deck Plans. - Perhaps they only came with American editions?

Lester