A rare and important ticket stub to the launching of R.M.S. Titanic by order of Harland & Wolff, Belfast, 31st May 1911.
Printed in black, numbered "471", the perforated admission stub to the launching of the R.M.S. Titanic would have been retained by the invitee re-admission to the viewing stands to watch the ship slide down the ways as she first took to the sea, and then towed to the fitting out berth. The stub reading, "No. 471 / "Titanic" / Launch. / To be retained for admittance to Stand." Attached to the bottom is an additional ticket stub in German for another event in 1910.
3-1/4 x 1-3/4 inches (82 x 45 mm).

Construction of R.M.S. Titanic, funded by the American J.P. Morgan and his International Mercantile Marine Co., began on 31 March 1909. Titanic's hull was launched at 12:13 on 31 May 1911, and her outfitting (completion of her exterior and interior) was not completed until 31 March the following year. In an unusual step away from tradition, White Star Line and Harland & Wolff did not christen the ship, and many believe this was the beginning of the end for the ill fated vessel.
See The Titanic Commutator, vol 16, no 1 (1st Quarter, May-July 1992), pp 26-28 for a discussion of reproduction launch tickets and illustrating this lot.