The most important single lot of Titanic artefacts ever seen is expected to head to auction on April 1.
More than 5,500 items, worth an estimated $189m, will be offered at Guernsey's in New York pending its sanction by a US judge.
The pieces, which include china, parts of the ship's hull and ship fittings, were salvaged during the course of seven visits to the wreck by the court-approved salvage company, RMS Titanic.
The company's parent firm, Premier Exhibitions, now plans to sell the items in a single lot, with the results announced on April 15. This is the 100th anniversary of the tragedy, which occurred on the ship's maiden voyage from Southampton to New York.
The wreckage of the Titanic was located in 1985. It lies more than two miles below the surface, 400 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.
An official announcement regarding the auction is expected to be made, next month.
Titanic artefacts have a strong history of performing well with collectors.
In 2005, Bonhams sold a picture frame made from Titanic driftwood by Bertram T King of the SS Minia, which helped save survivors. It brought $16,450.
A rare original White Star Line Titanic Return Poster achieved $28,200 at the same auction.
A menu of the meals for third class passengers on board sold for $44,650. It survived in the handbag of Sarah Roth, a Third Class passenger, who was rescued by the RMS Carpathia.
And then there is the key to the Titanic's binocular cupboard.
A crewman, transferred off the ship before the doomed voyage, had accidentally retained it in his uniform pocket. It sold for £90,000 in 2008.
Just 710 of the 2,224 people onboard Titanic survived.
