A handwritten letter by Colonel Archibald Gracie from April 10, 1912, was sold for a staggering £300,000 ($400,000) at an auction in the UK, significantly surpassing its expected value. The poignant letter, considered "prophetic," reflects Gracie's sentiments about the Titanic just five days before its tragic sinking. Documenting his reflections on the ship, Gracie's letter has captivated historians and enthusiasts alike, establishing itself as a remarkable piece of maritime history.
Titanic Survivor's Letter Fetches Record £300,000 at Auction
Titanic Survivor's Letter Fetches Record £300,000 at Auction
A historic letter penned by a Titanic passenger just days before the ill-fated voyage has shattered auction records.
The letter, dated April 10, 1912 – the day Gracie boarded the Titanic in Southampton – was sold anonymously at Henry Aldridge and Son auction house in Wiltshire. It fetched a price five times greater than the anticipated £60,000, marking it as the most valuable correspondence from the Titanic era. Written from his first-class cabin C51, the letter was mailed after the ship docked in Queenstown, Ireland, on April 11, and postmarked in London on April 12.
Gracie was among around 2,200 individuals aboard the Titanic, journeying to New York, where more than 1,500 tragically lost their lives in the disaster. His account of the sinking remains one of the most renowned narratives from the ill-fated ship, and he later authored the book "The Truth About The Titanic," chronicling his harrowing survival story. He detailed his escape from the icy waters by clinging to an overturned lifeboat, where many did not survive due to cold and exhaustion.
Though Gracie survived the catastrophe, the experience took a severe toll on his health. He fell into a coma on December 2, 1912, and succumbed to complications from diabetes two days later.
Gracie was among around 2,200 individuals aboard the Titanic, journeying to New York, where more than 1,500 tragically lost their lives in the disaster. His account of the sinking remains one of the most renowned narratives from the ill-fated ship, and he later authored the book "The Truth About The Titanic," chronicling his harrowing survival story. He detailed his escape from the icy waters by clinging to an overturned lifeboat, where many did not survive due to cold and exhaustion.
Though Gracie survived the catastrophe, the experience took a severe toll on his health. He fell into a coma on December 2, 1912, and succumbed to complications from diabetes two days later.
