The auction of a gold pocket watch awarded to Captain Arthur Rostron for his bravery during the Titanic disaster has reached record-breaking prices, illustrating the persistent fascination with the historic maritime tragedy.
Titanic Rescue Watch Fetches £1.56 Million at Auction
Titanic Rescue Watch Fetches £1.56 Million at Auction
A gold pocket watch presented to the captain who saved Titanic survivors sells for a record sum, reflecting ongoing public interest in Titanic history.
Despite the passage of time, the tragic story of the Titanic continues to captivate the world, as evidenced by the recent auction of an 18-carat Tiffany & Co. gold pocket watch for £1.56 million ($1.97 million). This timepiece was presented to Captain Sir Arthur Rostron of the RMS Carpathia, who heroically rescued over 700 passengers from the sinking Titanic.
The auction, conducted by Henry Aldridge and Son in Wiltshire, marks the highest sale ever for memorabilia associated with the Titanic disaster, with the watch purchased by a private collector in the United States. According to auctioneer Andrew Aldridge, this sale highlights the "enduring fascination" with the ill-fated ship.
The watch was given to Captain Rostron by the widow of John Jacob Astor, a prominent businessman who was among those lost when the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank on April 15, 1912. It bears an inscription thanking Rostron, stating: "presented to Captain Rostron with the heartfelt gratitude and appreciation of three survivors of the Titanic April 15th 1912 Mrs John B Thayer, Mrs John Jacob Astor and Mrs George D Widener."
At the time of the disaster, Rostron's ship was en route to Europe from New York when it received a distress signal indicating the Titanic had struck ice. With commendable speed, the Carpathia changed its course and arrived roughly two hours after the Titanic had gone under, ultimately saving many lives.
This record comes just months after another Titanic-related item—a gold pocket watch recovered from John Jacob Astor's body—sold for £1.175 million at the same auction house. Prior to that, a violin played by a musician during the sinking held the highest record for 11 years, selling for £1.1 million in 2013.
The recent auction results suggest heightened demand for Titanic memorabilia, as noted by Aldridge, who remarked on the "ever-decreasing supply and an ever-increasing demand" for artifacts related to the tragic maritime event. Such findings resonate with collectors and historians alike, prompting interest in rare items that offer personal connections to one of history's most notorious shipwrecks.
The auction, conducted by Henry Aldridge and Son in Wiltshire, marks the highest sale ever for memorabilia associated with the Titanic disaster, with the watch purchased by a private collector in the United States. According to auctioneer Andrew Aldridge, this sale highlights the "enduring fascination" with the ill-fated ship.
The watch was given to Captain Rostron by the widow of John Jacob Astor, a prominent businessman who was among those lost when the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank on April 15, 1912. It bears an inscription thanking Rostron, stating: "presented to Captain Rostron with the heartfelt gratitude and appreciation of three survivors of the Titanic April 15th 1912 Mrs John B Thayer, Mrs John Jacob Astor and Mrs George D Widener."
At the time of the disaster, Rostron's ship was en route to Europe from New York when it received a distress signal indicating the Titanic had struck ice. With commendable speed, the Carpathia changed its course and arrived roughly two hours after the Titanic had gone under, ultimately saving many lives.
This record comes just months after another Titanic-related item—a gold pocket watch recovered from John Jacob Astor's body—sold for £1.175 million at the same auction house. Prior to that, a violin played by a musician during the sinking held the highest record for 11 years, selling for £1.1 million in 2013.
The recent auction results suggest heightened demand for Titanic memorabilia, as noted by Aldridge, who remarked on the "ever-decreasing supply and an ever-increasing demand" for artifacts related to the tragic maritime event. Such findings resonate with collectors and historians alike, prompting interest in rare items that offer personal connections to one of history's most notorious shipwrecks.
