Steward Richard Geddes wrote to his wife, Sarah, on April 11, 1912, the day after the "unsinkable ship" left the port of Southampton. In the letter, Geddes explains how the Titanic and another ship, the SS City of New York, came within a few feet of each other as the Titanic first left. The other ship, Geddes wrote, broke its ropes and the Titanic had to steer clear quickly.

Many people onboard interpreted the near-collision as a sign of trouble ahead. They were proved correct on the night of April 14, when the ocean liner hit an iceberg and sank less than three hours later. Geddes, who in the letter said he hoped his wife was not worrying, did not make it out alive.

Geddes, who was 31, mailed the letter the same day he wrote it, from Queenstown, Ireland, when the ship picked up passengers there. In the letter, he included greetings to his two young children.

The auctioneers, Henry Aldridge and Son, are including with the letter the envelope, photos of Geddes and his wife, and an official document confirming Geddes' death.