Olympic or Titanic?
Finnegan explains that scholars must take into account the production of an image “if we are to know where images come from (literally) and why they appear in the spaces we find them” (200). The goal of this exhibit is not to account for every aspect of the production of Titanic postcards, but it does seek to better understand some of the key elements that influenced their production, including the White Star Line’s available photographs.
The Titanic sank on her maiden voyage; accordingly, there are relatively few photographs that exist of the ship. Most images that claim to be the Titanic are actually pictures of the Olympic, a slightly older, but nearly identical ship (Smithsonian National Postal Museum).
Even before the disaster struck, the White Star Line was known to have used images of the Olympic to advertise for the ship. In fact, it is estimated that about 90 percent of pictures claiming to be the Titanic, particularly those in advertisements and collectibles following her loss—are actually of the Olympic (Judnick and Scott). Postcard publishers would repurpose photographs of the Olympic by changing the title of the card (if using a pre-existing postcard) or the name written on the ship. These production techniques were sometimes executed more crudely than others.
Still, even the most carefully edited photograph of the Olympic can still be distinguished from an image of the actual Titanic if one knows what to look for. Postcard collectors Bill Judnick and Devon M. Scott explain that the key is to look for a row of windows on the Promenade deck of the Titanic:
The Olympic was in service for some time before Titanic was completed; it was learned that first-class passengers on the promenade would sometimes get wet from the spray caused by the bow. Therefore, the forward, First Class section of the Promenade deck of the Titanic was enclosed, but for the Olympic it was not enclosed.
Of course, there are exceptions to the rule, but the row of windows is the quickest and easiest way to discern which ship is on the postcard.
The image of the Olympic has been edited so the name on the ship reads Titanic. The publishers also included a new caption after the Titanic sank. ("Titanic Survivor")
Originally a postcard for the Olympic, this card has been repurposed for the Titanic by changing the title. (Piazza)
The highlighted row of windows is the easiest way to determine quickly which ship is on the postcard: Titanic or Olympic? (Judnick and Scott)
The image of the Olympic has been edited so the name on the ship reads Titanic. The publishers also included a new caption after the Titanic sank. ("Titanic Survivor")