A lettercard written by Titanic survivor Archibald Gracie has sold for $399,000 at auction. The note, dated April 10, 1912, was sent to Gracie’s great-uncle and reflected his initial impressions of the ship, stating, “It is a fine ship but I shall await my journeys end before I pass judgment on her.” The auction, conducted by Henry Aldridge & Son in Wiltshire, England, saw the letter’s final price significantly exceed the initial estimate of £60,000.
This letter is considered the only known example from Gracie during the Titanic’s voyage, which tragically ended when the ship sank off Newfoundland after hitting an iceberg, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,500 people. Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge called the letter an “exceptional museum grade piece.”
Colonel Gracie, who was a first-class passenger assigned to cabin C51, survived the sinking by jumping into the sea and eventually climbing onto an overturned boat. He was rescued by passengers in a lifeboat and later taken aboard the R.M.S. Carpathia. Gracie went on to recount his experiences in his book, “The Truth about the Titanic,” which is noted for its detailed account of the events of that fateful night. Unfortunately, Gracie did not fully recover from the hypothermia he endured and passed away later that year due to complications from diabetes.
The letter was postmarked in Queenstown, Ireland, one of two ports of call before the Titanic’s demise, further emphasizing its historical significance. The private collector from the U.S. now owns this remarkable piece of maritime history.
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