THE letter ‘M’ of an ocean liner, which was operational during Titanic’s short era, could reach almost £10,000 at an auction being held in the region.

A 2ft high cast bronze ‘M’ from the starboard side of the RMS Mauretania will be auctioned off by Tennants Auctioneers in Leyburn, North Yorkshire on Tuesday, November 26.

The Northern Echo:

The ocean liner was built on the banks of the River Tyne by Wigham Richardson and Swan Hunters in 1906 and travelled between Southampton and New York during its twenty-eight year career.

Sailing for Cunard Line, and later Cunard White Star Line, the ship was one of the most famous afloat in the golden age of liners.

A spokesperson from Tennants Auctioneers said: “The Mauretania was, at the time of her launch, the largest moving structure ever built. She weighed in at more than 30,000 tons, and thanks to new quadruple screws was 75 per cent more powerful than anything previously built.

“She was slightly longer and heavier than her sister ship, the ill-fated Lusitania which was to be torpedoed by German submarines in 1915.

“She held the record for the largest ship afloat until the RMS Olympic was launched in 1911 and held both the eastbound and westbound Blue Ribands for Atlantic crossings for almost twenty years.”

RMS Mauretania was decommissioned in 1935, where a London-based auctioneers were given the job of selling its furnishings and panellings.

As part of its decommissioning, each of the ship’s nameplates was also auctioned off with the letter ‘M’ sold to returning passenger Martin Sutton in 1935.

But after several decades, the ‘M’, which has now come available is expected to fetch anywhere between £5,000 and £8,000 plus buyer’s premium at auction.

The piece of the historic liner will be available for public viewing on the day.

For more information telephone Tennants Auctioneers on 01969-623780 or visit www.tennants.co.uk