Titanic Plaque In Spain Called A Fake

Photo: The Spanish Titanic Foundation
Photo: The Spanish Titanic Foundation

A plaque commemorating Titanic launch in 1912 has been called a fake according to The Olive Press. The plaque–on display at a Titanic exhibition in Grenada, Spain–has been missing for over a century when a Spanish art dealer found it in his grandfather’s collection. He claims that his grandfather bought it (without knowing its importance) from an art dealer twelve years ago. It was given to the Spanish Titanic Foundation and the star attraction in the current exhibition.

However David van Dalen of The Netherlands, an avowed Titanic fan, claims it is a forgery and likely created in the 1990’s. The fonts used on the plaque came into existence after 1915, and text lines appear compressed or distorted which indicates a computer was used. According to van Dalen:

This so-called important resurfaced relic proves to be fakery beyond any doubt, not priceless but virtually worthless, fabricated and fake-aged by an unknown maker using computer fonts randomly and unwittingly like an ignorant child.

He also notes the picture on the plaque is a well known photo of Titanic sailing away from Southampton after the plaque was presented. However it appears there are no plans to remove the plaque from the exhibition.

Source: Titanic Relic Found In Spain Is Declared Fake(The Olive Press,5 Dec 2015)