Photo of Iceberg That Sank Titanic on Auction

A photo of the iceberg that likely sank the Titanic — along with a critical testimony about red paint seen on the side of the iceberg — has resurfaced after hanging for nearly a century on a boardroom wall, according to a BBC report.

The photo showing what may be the deadliest iceberg in history, was snapped by the chief steward of the German ocean liner Prinz Adalbert on April 15, 1912 — the morning after the Titanic struck the iceberg and sank, dooming the ship’s 2,200 passengers. While other photos of the iceberg exist, this is the only one that comes with its own testimony.

In the testimony, the steward wrote, “On the day after the sinking of the Titanic, the steamer Prinz Adalbert passes the iceberg shown in this photograph. The Titanic disaster was not yet known by us. On one side red paint was plainly visible, which has the appearance of having been made by the scraping of a vessel on the iceberg.”

The note was signed “M. Linoenewald, and three crewmen.”

The Titanic’s hull was painted red and the red paint on the iceberg most likely had come from the ship as the ice scraped into its side. The Titanic was on its maiden voyage crossing the Atlantic when it hit the iceberg, carrying just over 2,200 passengers and crew. Only 983 people survived the disaster.

The photograph hung for decades on the walls of the law firm representing the Titanic’s owners, White Star Line. The firm closed in 2002, and the four partners of the firm are now putting it up for auction, along with the note.

Read more at Discovery News