DownEast Auctions – Two Auctions, One Day
Saturday, May 4th 2024
Perseverance Hall 328 E. Main St. (U.S. Rte.l) Searsport, Maine 04974
www.downeastauctions.com

SEARSPORT, MAINE — City of New York was a British-built passenger liner of the Inman Line designed to be the largest and fastest liner on the Atlantic. When she entered service in August 1888, she was the first twin screw express liner. She held the eastbound crossing record from August 1892 to May 1893 at a speed of 20.11 knots. City of New York and her sister, City of Paris, are considered especially beautiful ships and throughout their careers were rivals to the White Star Teutonic and Majestic. In February 1893 the Inman Line was merged into the American Line and by an act of Congress, the renamed New York was transferred to the US flag. The ship held 1,740 passengers with 362 officers and crew.

At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in 1898, City of New York was renamed Harvard and pressed into war service. She sailed to Cuba where she rescued battle survivors, held prisoners of war and transported troops back to the United States.

The New York resumed her civilian service on the New York–Southampton run in January 1899. The ship’s claim to fame came in 1912. The New York was berthed in Southampton beside Oceanic. The thee-inch steel hawsers that secured her were torn from their moorings when the much larger Titanic (leaving port to begin her ill-fated maiden voyage to New York City) passed by, creating a suction effect. A collision was narrowly avoided when Titanic’s captain, Edward Smith, ordered the port propeller to reverse, turning the larger liner while a nearby tugboat towed New York in the opposite direction. Think of how the fate of 1,500 people would have changed if the New York had damaged the Titanic and held it up for repairs. The deceased passengers of the Titanic, once recovered, were brought to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where they were ceremoniously buried in a graveyard not far from where a lithograph of the City of New York was found in a Lunenburg family home.

The lithograph, which measures 32 by 47 inches in its original frame, is only the third chrome lithograph of the City of New York known to exist. Other Titanic-related items at auction include a recovered coal, a spoon from the White Star Line and period postcards.

The 10 am auction at Downeast Auctions on May 4 will offer something for everyone, including estate guns, sports memorabilia, Madame Alexander dolls, a Marklin Grafenweiler train set from Germany, ephemera, stamps and more. At 2 pm the auction house will sell three coin estates in more than 300 lots, including more than 80 lots of 90 percent silver, US gold, CC Morgan dollars, key dates such as a 1955 double die, proof sets, rolls, large and small currency, including a PMG graded 1893 $10 national currency, Boston, Mass. Charter #2103 in VF 30 condition.

Previews will be conducted on the Friday before sale day from 2 to 6 pm and on auction day starting at 9 am. Other times by appointment. The May 4 auction will take place at the firm’s newly remodeled auction hall “Perseverance Hall” at 328 East Main Street (US Route 1). The antiques and collectibles auction begins at 10 am, and the 300-plus-lot cataloged coin and currency starts at 2 pm. For information, 207-548-2393 or www.downeastauctions.com.

Previews: Friday 2-6 pm. & Auction day 9 am. Other times by appointment.
Antique & Collectibles Auction @ 10am: Estate Guns, Sport Memorabilia, Dolls, Model Trains, Rare Ship items, Ephemera, Stamps, Furniture & more.
Cataloged Coin & Currency Auction @ 2pm: Over 300 lots: 80+ lots of 90% Silver, U.S.Gold, Silver Dollars, including CC,s, Key dates including 1955 DDO, Proof sets, Coin sets, Rolls, Large & Small size Currency, Coin books & Supplies.
BUYERS PREMIUM STILL ONLY 10% for CASH or CHECK
Mark E. Bradstreet, CAI. ME Lie. #1212 & Zach Sneed, ME Lie. #1661 Credit & Debit cards accepted, Absentee & Phone bids welcome. Food by Lions Club.
Come & see our newly remodeled hall!
For Coin or Gun List & photos visit www.downeastauctions.com or call: 207-548 2393