R.M.S. TITANIC - Albert Charles THOMAS (1889-1973).  "No. 680500. Continuous Certificate of Discharge." 8vo (160 x 110mm). 25-pages, tables. Original black cloth wallet with flap, rectangular section in upper cover cut-away revealing the holder's signature on the first page, "Board of Trade" coat-of-arms stamped in gilt above (lightly rubbed). A HIGHLY IMPORTANT RECORD OF ALBERT CHARLES THOMAS'S SERVICE ON BOARD R.M.S. TITANIC ON ITS FATEFUL MAIDEN VOYAGE, WITH NEAR-CONTEMPORARY AUTOGRAPH NOTES OUTLINING THE DISASTER WITH CHILLING BREVITY: ... 'DATE AND PLACE OF DISCHARGE:' "15 APRIL 1912. AT SEA" ... 'DESCRIPTION OF VOYAGE:' "INTENDED NEW YORK." On pages 15-16, the first column, under the printed heading 'Name of ship and official number, Port of registry, and tonnage,' is filled in, in a contemporary hand, "Titanic. 131428. Liverpool 21831"; the second column, under the printed heading 'Date and place of engagement', is filled in, "10 April 1912, South'ton"; the third column, under the printed heading 'Rating; and R.N.R. No. (if any)' is filled in "Stwd"; the fourth column, under the printed heading 'Date and place of discharge' is filled in "15 April 1912 At Sea"; the fifth column under the printed heading 'Description of voyage' is filled in "Intended New York"; and the final column, under the printed heading 'Signature of Master', is filled in "Extracted from List of Crew [?]Th. Malan, Registrar General, 30th May 1912," with blue stamp. The booklet, which is signed on several occasions by the holder, details a total of 42 voyages made between 18th February 1910 and 30th January 1914, including the ill-fated one on board Titanic, but also on board the steamers Asturias, Teutonic, Ionic, Kinfauns Castle, Majestic, Oceanic, Araguaya, where his positions are described variously as Waiter, 2nd Pantry Steward, Steward and Assistant Steward. In the columns for 'Report of Character. For ability. For general conduct' the stamps are, without exception, 'Very Good'. The 'title' page of the booklet is inscribed in a contemporary hand "Renewal Book. Original lost through shipwreck." Loosely-inserted is a modern photograph of Albert Thomas, in uniform, from an original taken in 1928. According to the on-line resource "Encyclopedia Titanica", Thomas, a First Class Saloon Steward, was one of 60 occupants of Lifeboat 15 (along with 23 other crew members) which was located on the starboard side of Boat Deck, adjacent to the fourth funnel. With a second similar booklet for Albert Thomas detailing voyages made between 4th February 1914 until 27th February 1923, serving on various vessels. (2)