Titanic survivor’s letter sells for nearly $400K at auction

A letter written by Titanic survivor Archibald Gracie just days before the ship’s tragic sinking has fetched an astonishing $399,000 at an auction, far exceeding initial estimates.

Gracie’s ‘prophetic’ words about ill-fated voyage

The historic letter, penned by Gracie during the Titanic’s maiden voyage, was unveiled at the Henry Aldridge & Son auction house in England. Written just five days before the ship struck an iceberg and sank, the letter was described as “prophetic” by experts.

In the letter, Gracie remarked, “It is a fine ship, but I shall await my journey’s end before I pass judgment on her,” hinting at a cautious optimism that has taken on a haunting significance in hindsight.

Initially expected to sell for around $80,000, the letter’s final sale price captured considerable attention, with a U.S. collector securing the prized artifact.

Survivor turned author after Titanic disaster

Archibald Gracie survived the Titanic disaster and later recounted his harrowing experience in his book “The Truth About the Titanic.” However, he never fully recovered from the hypothermia he suffered during the sinking. Gracie passed away eight months later due to complications from diabetes, compounded by the trauma he endured.

Titanic’s tragic maiden voyage

The RMS Titanic, the largest and most luxurious passenger ship of its time, set sail from Southampton, England, on April 10, 1912, carrying 2,224 passengers and crew bound for New York.

On April 15, 1912, disaster struck when the ship collided with an iceberg, leading to its tragic sinking in the icy waters of the North Atlantic. More than 1,500 lives were lost in one of maritime history’s deadliest disasters. The RMS Carpathia later arrived at the scene, rescuing 710 survivors.