‘Prophetic’ Letter from Famous Titanic Survivor Sells for $399,000: A Look at the Special Item
Experts reveal what makes Titanic memorabilia so valuable—plus other big-ticket auction items
Since the Titanic’s tragic shipwreck in 1912, people around the world have wanted to preserve the legacy of not only the ship but its passengers, as well. For that reason, auctions focused on Titanic memorabilia have continued to garner attention for more than 100 years after the accident. One recently auctioned item has been particularly newsworthy thanks to its prophetic message. Keep reading to learn more about the significance of the recently sold Titanic letterhead, plus find out what other Titanic memorabilia has won big at auctions over the years.
More about the Titanic letter sold at auction
The revered lettercard was written by Archibald Gracie, a well-known survivor of the Titanic disaster. In the message, dated April 10, 1912, Gracie shared his first impressions of the ship with an acquaintance named Mr. Brooks. This European ambassador was reportedly staying at the Waldorf Hotel in London when he received Gracie’s letter.
“It is a fine ship but I shall await my journey’s end before I pass judgment on her,” the letter reads, according to USA Today. “The Oceanic is like an old friend and while she does not possess the elaborate style and varied amusement of this big ship, still her sea-worthy qualities and yacht-like appearance make me miss her.”
The prophetic letter stayed within the family of the recipient for generations. It was the recipient’s great-nephew who decided to sell it with the help of the auction house Henry Aldridge and Son in Wiltshire, England, which specializes in Titanic-related items.
How much did the Titanic letterhead sell for?
The chilling note being penned just days before the ship’s sinking makes it quite a find. Plus, the stationery itself is special: the four-sided lettercard features a “White Star Line” logo on the front near the postmark and “On board RMS Titanic” on the flipside.
“It is impossible to overstate the rarity of this lot,” the auction house shared in the description of the item. “It is written by one of the highest profile survivors, with excellent content and on the rarest of mediums a lettercard. A truly exceptional museum-grade piece.”
The special letter certainly appealed to bidders, who seemed to agree with its worth. It was initially expected to bring in 60,000 pounds (around $80,000), but sold for a whopping $399,000 at auction this past Saturday. The winning bid was from a private collector in the U.S., reports CBS News.
Who was Titanic survivor Archibald Gracie, the man behind the letter?
Archibald Gracie IV is best known for his book The Truth about the Titanic, in which he shared his experience surviving the shipwreck. He was 54 years old when he boarded the Titanic as a first-class passenger on April 10—the same day the letter was written.
According to Encyclopedia Titanica, Gracie was just three hours into his sleep on April 14 when he was awakened by a jolt. After realizing that the ship was no longer running, he got dressed and made his way to the boat deck. It was there that he learned from his friend and fellow passenger, Clinch Smith, that the ship had collided with an iceberg.
The pair helped officers get as many women and children as possible onto the limited lifeboats. Though Smith unfortunately disappeared into the water when the ship sank, Gracie managed to keep afloat by clinging to an overturned lifeboat. He was among the 706 people to survive the incident and be rescued by the ship Carpathia.
The most expensive Titanic items ever auctioned
Though much from the ship has been lost since its tragic accident in the Atlantic, many artifacts connected to the ship have been recovered or resurfaced over the years—and sold for hefty amounts.
Here are some of the most expensive Titanic-related items that have been auctioned to date:
- Violin: The musical instrument was allegedly played by bandleader Wallace Hartley as the ship sank. Purchased for $1.7 million in 2013.
- Menu: The evening dinner menu was used in Titanic’s first-class restaurant. Purchased for $101,600 in 2023.
- Pocket watch: From Tiffany & Co., the 18-carat gold watch was given to Captain Arthur Rostron by three women survivors as a thank you for diverting the Carpathia to come rescue them. Purchased for $1.5 million in 2024.
- Deckchair: The Nantucket wooden chair was located on the first-class promenade deck. Purchased for $150,000 in 2015.
- Key: This key unlocked the crow’s nest locker where the binoculars for the ship were stored. An officer who was transferred off the ship days before its voyage accidentally left it in his pocket. Many have since wondered if this contributed to the iceberg collision, as the lookouts on board couldn’t access the binoculars without the key. Purchased for $116,00 in 2007.
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