A letter penned by Colonel Archibald Gracie, a passenger aboard the ill-fated Titanic, has set a stunning record at auction, selling for £300,000 ($400,000) in the UK. The extraordinary document, which dates back to 10 April 1912—just five days prior to the ship’s tragic sinking—was acquired by an anonymous bidder at Henry Aldridge and Son auction house in Wiltshire, significantly exceeding expectations of £60,000.
Historic Titanic Letter Fetches £300,000 at Auction
Historic Titanic Letter Fetches £300,000 at Auction
A handwritten letter from a Titanic passenger sells for five times its estimate, revealing chilling insights before tragedy struck.
The letter, described as “prophetic,” contains Gracie's reflections on the Titanic, where he remarked he would “await my journey's end” before passing any judgment on the "fine ship." The first-class passenger wrote the letter from cabin C51 aboard the Titanic. It was sent while the ship made a stop in Queenstown, Ireland, on 11 April, and postmarked in London two days later.
This remarkable piece of correspondence is now the most expensive letter from the Titanic ever sold at auction and highlights Col. Gracie's notable account of the maritime disaster. He is well known for his book, The Truth About The Titanic, which details his harrowing experience as he survived the shipwreck by clinging to an overturned lifeboat amidst freezing conditions. Tragically, while he lived through the disaster, Col. Gracie suffered extensive health issues related to hypothermia and other injuries sustained during the incident. He fell into a coma just months later and died in December 1912 due to complications from diabetes.
The sale of this poignant letter not only underscores historical fascination with the Titanic but also serves as a poignant reminder of the individuals whose lives were forever altered by the maritime tragedy.
This remarkable piece of correspondence is now the most expensive letter from the Titanic ever sold at auction and highlights Col. Gracie's notable account of the maritime disaster. He is well known for his book, The Truth About The Titanic, which details his harrowing experience as he survived the shipwreck by clinging to an overturned lifeboat amidst freezing conditions. Tragically, while he lived through the disaster, Col. Gracie suffered extensive health issues related to hypothermia and other injuries sustained during the incident. He fell into a coma just months later and died in December 1912 due to complications from diabetes.
The sale of this poignant letter not only underscores historical fascination with the Titanic but also serves as a poignant reminder of the individuals whose lives were forever altered by the maritime tragedy.
