A new, melancholy bit of Titanic memorabilia, which also describes life on the ship in second class, is hitting the auction block on March 27 at Forum Auctions in London, and is expected to fetch between $25,800 and $38,700.

Thomas Cupper Mudd, one of 13 children, wrote a letter to his mother on April 11, 1912, on RMS Titanic letterhead a few days before the ship sank on April 15. A photo is also included.

“Dear Mother & all at home,” the letter says. “I am now taking the opportunity of sending you a few lines about how we started from Southhampton (sic) … We have been having very rough weather, but the ship is so steady you would hardly know it was moving, was it not for the throbbing of the engines. We are now nearing Queenstown. 

“The ship is like a magnificent palace. The lounge & dining hall are very beautiful. We are having excellent food. I have made friends with a young English gentleman and he is very nice indeed. The beds are very nice also with plenty of covering to keep warm also they have spring mattresses … Excuse writing as the ship is rolling a good bit. 

“Now I must close. With love to all. I remain, your loving son Tom.”

Unfortunately, the young man, who was 16, died in the disaster, along with the great-grandson of Astoria’s founder, John Jacob Astor IV. Mudd was one of the youngest victims, and if his body was recovered, it was not identified. (Photos: Forum Auctions)