An antiques roadshow in Somerset has uncovered a remarkable piece of telecommunications history.
The discovery was made in the village of Evercreech during a WeBuyVintage event, where antiques specialist Ismael Khan identified a Tiffany & Co transatlantic telegraph cable section from 1858.
The item dates back to the world’s first successful transatlantic telegraph cable, a major achievement led by American businessman Cyrus W Field and the Atlantic Telegraph Company.
Mr Khan said: "This is an exceptionally rare find and certainly not the sort of item you come across every day.
"To discover this genuine 1858 Tiffany & Co transatlantic cable section is incredibly exciting.
"It represents a major moment in global history and the beginning of instant international communication.
"Pieces like this are highly sought after because they combine engineering, innovation and historical significance."
Connecting Valentia Island in Ireland with Newfoundland in Canada, the cable revolutionised long-distance communication, reducing message delivery times between Europe and North America from around ten days by ship to just minutes.
Although it operated for only three weeks before failing, the cable proved that transatlantic communication was possible, laying the groundwork for the global telecommunications networks used today.
Mr Field, who had no formal engineering background, organised and financed multiple attempts to complete the cable between the mid-1850s and 1858.
Despite repeated technical setbacks, including broken cables and unreliable signals, Mr Field continued to raise funds and support until the first successful message was sent in 1858 between Queen Victoria and US president James Buchanan.
That initial cable soon failed, but a more reliable one was completed in 1866, making near-instant communication between continents a reality and marking a lasting breakthrough in international connectivity.
Following the partial success of the 1858 project, Field sold sections of the leftover cable to Tiffany & Co.
The company cut the cable into smaller pieces and sold them as authenticated commemorative souvenirs.
Some were even crafted into items such as jewellery.
The cable section found in Evercreech is about four inches long and still bears its original brass certification band engraved with the words "Atlantic Telegraph Cable / Guaranteed by Tiffany & Co. / Broadway, New York. 1858."
It retains its original engineering structure, including a copper wire core, gutta-percha insulation, tarred hemp wrapping, and iron wire armouring, making it both a technological artefact and a collectible item.
Mr Khan, who has extensive experience valuing rare antiques, immediately recognised its importance during the roadshow.
He said: "This is exactly why we hold roadshows around the country.
"People often have fascinating items tucked away without realising what they are.
"To uncover something linked to one of the Victorian era’s greatest engineering achievements is a real privilege and a reminder that important history can still turn up in unexpected places."
The cable section has been valued at £800, reflecting its rarity and historical significance.
It stands as a physical link to a project that helped shrink the world and set the foundation for the way we communicate today.
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