Rare Titanic letter sells for nearly $400,000 at auction
- A lettercard from Archibald Gracie, a Titanic survivor, was sold for $399,000 at auction.
- The letter was written on April 10, 1912, expressing Gracie's early impressions of the ship.
- This sale underscores the ongoing interest in Titanic memorabilia and its historical importance.
In April 1912, a lettercard written by Archibald Gracie, a first-class passenger aboard the Titanic, was penned to his great-uncle just days before the ship's tragic sinking. On April 10, 1912, while onboard the ill-fated steamship, Gracie described the ship as 'a fine ship' but expressed that he would await judgment on her qualities after his journey. Gracie's note holds significant historical value, as it is believed to be the sole letter in existence from him during the Titanic's voyage. The ship embarked from Southampton and was destined for New York City but met disaster shortly after leaving European shores, sinking off Newfoundland after colliding with an iceberg. Approximately 1,500 lives were lost in this maritime catastrophe, which occurred on the Titanic's maiden voyage. The auction house Henry Aldridge & Son, located in Wiltshire, England, announced the sale of the letter, which fetched a remarkable £300,000 ($399,000), exceeding its initial estimated value of £60,000. The buyer was a private collector from the United States, recognizing the letter's exceptional historical significance. Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge referred to the letter as an 'exceptional museum grade piece,' emphasizing its rarity and importance within Titanic memorabilia. Archibald Gracie, who survived the disaster, later published a detailed account titled 'The Truth about the Titanic,' which depicts his experiences on that harrowing night. After the ship sank, Gracie managed to escape into an overturned collapsible boat and was subsequently rescued by passengers from the R.M.S. Carpathia, which arrived to assist Titanic survivors. His account is among the most comprehensive narratives detailing the events surrounding the ship's sinking and the aftermath faced by those aboard. Sadly, Gracie did not fully recover from the effects of hypothermia suffered after the Titanic disaster and passed away later in 1912 due to complications from diabetes. The recent auction highlights the continued interest and fascination surrounding the Titanic and its historical artifacts, illustrating how artifacts from this tragedy remain highly sought-after in the collector's market, reflecting a deep public connection to the ship's storied past.