Historic Titanic Letter Fetches Record Price at Auction
A poignant letter penned aboard the RMS Titanic just hours before its fateful collision with an iceberg has been sold at auction for £119,000 (approximately $200,000). This sale marks a significant milestone in Titanic memorabilia, setting a new record for such artifacts.
The letter was written by Esther Hart, a second-class passenger, on April 14, 1912, during the ship’s maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. Addressed to her mother in Chadwell Heath, east London, the letter describes the voyage as "wonderful" and mentions the ship’s punctuality. Hart also notes the pleasant weather and the ship’s impressive size, likening it to a "palatial hotel." Her seven-year-old daughter, Eva, added a postscript: "Heaps of love and kisses to all from Eva."
Tragically, hours after the letter was written, the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank, resulting in the loss of over 1,500 lives, including Hart’s husband, Benjamin. The letter survived because it was tucked into the pocket of Benjamin’s sheepskin-lined coat, which he had given to Esther as she and Eva were evacuated. Both Esther and Eva survived the disaster and were rescued by the RMS Carpathia.
The auction, conducted by Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, England, attracted significant interest from collectors worldwide. Andrew Aldridge, the auctioneer, commented on the letter’s exceptional quality and rarity, noting that it was the first time such a letter had been offered for sale. The sale price surpassed the pre-sale estimate of £100,000, reflecting the enduring fascination with Titanic artifacts.
Titanic memorabilia has seen a surge in value in recent years. In 2014, a letter written by Esther Hart sold for £119,000, and in 2017, a letter from first-class passenger Alexander Oskar Holverson fetched £120,000. These items offer a rare glimpse into the lives of those aboard the ill-fated ship and continue to captivate historians and collectors alike.
The sale of this letter not only honors the memory of those who perished but also serves as a testament to the Titanic’s enduring legacy in popular culture and history.
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