Mandatory Credit: Photo by Bournemouth News / Rex Features (1329359c)
Part of the 32ft long Titanic plan, complete with red and blue chalk markings to show where ice was believed to have penetrated the ship
32ft long Titanic plan created for official 1912 sinking enquiry to be auctioned, Devizes, Wiltshire, Britain - 18 May 2011
A unique 32ft long plan of the Titanic drawn up for the official 1912 enquiry into her sinking is to be auctioned. The detailed plan was used by witnesses to show exactly what happened and still contains chalk marks marking where the iceberg struck. The enormous drawing was mounted on linen and was drawn in Indian ink and hand-coloured. Measuring 32ft 6ins by 4ft 8ins and using a scale of 3/8ins to one foot, it was hung in the official hearing room so that witnesses could refer to it constantly. The plan - headed 'S.S. "TITANIC." PROFILE' - has been described by experts as the 'Holy Grail' of Titanic memorabilia and is expected to sell for GBP 150,000. It still bears chalk halk markings indicating where ice is believed to have penetrated five water-tight bulk heads. There are also handwritten captions explaining the complexities of the ship.