Colonel Gracie’s Titanic Letter Fetches $399,000 at Auction
In a poignant reminder of the Titanic disaster, a letter penned by first-class passenger Col. Archibald Gracie was auctioned for an astounding $399,000 (approximately £300,000) on Saturday. Gracie’s letter, written on April 10, 1912—just days before the ship struck an iceberg—describes the vessel as a "fine ship," though he reserved his final judgment for after the journey.
The auction, conducted by Henry Aldridge and Son in Wiltshire, England, featured the correspondence addressed to an unidentified European ambassador and included a distinctive Titanic letterhead displaying a red flag with a white star. Its postmark from London on April 12 came just before the Titanic’s tragic sinking on April 15, 1912.
Gracie, who survived the catastrophe, spoke of his harrowing experience clinging to a railing as the ship descended into the icy waters. After hours adrift on a raft, he was rescued by the RMS Carpathia. Despite his survival, he suffered from the emotional trauma of the event and wrote a book titled "The Truth About the Titanic," published posthumously.
In an email, auction house managing director Andrew Aldridge emphasized the importance of preserving memorabilia to keep the memories of Titanic’s passengers alive. Originally estimated to sell for nearly $80,000, the letter’s final price underscores its historical significance.
Colonel Gracie, a notable figure in societal circles, passed away just months after the tragedy, allegedly due to complications linked to the Titanic ordeal. His wife was briefly reported missing for unrelated reasons, while their daughter held onto hope for her father’s safe return.
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