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A letter deemed “prophetic,” written aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic, has been auctioned in England for a remarkable price.
The letter, authored by Archibald Gracie IV on April 10, 1912—just five days prior to the ship’s tragic sinking on April 15—was sold by Henry Aldridge & Son Ltd., based in Wiltshire, on April 26.
Gracie composed the note as the ship departed from Southampton, England, with it being postmarked in London on April 12, just before the disaster unfolded.
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In his letter, Gracie expressed a cautious optimism about the ship, noting, “It is a fine ship but I shall await my journey’s end before I pass judgment on her.” He added a nostalgic comparison to the RMS Oceanic, saying, “The Oceanic is like an old friend… her seaworthy qualities and yacht-like appearance make me miss her.”
As highlighted by Henry Aldridge & Son Ltd, Gracie was abruptly awakened shortly before midnight on April 14 when the Titanic collided with an iceberg.
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The auction house recounted that Gracie later detailed the harrowing survival struggle, mentioning, “more than half the men who had originally reached the lifeboat either died from exhaustion or cold, quietly slipping off the keel during the night.”
The auctioneer behind the sale described the letter as “prophetic,” noting its significance as Gracie chronicled his harrowing experience upon being rescued by the Carpathia.
While Gracie survived, the impact of the disaster took a toll on his health. He suffered from severe hypothermia and various injuries during the sinking.
In December 1912, he fell into a coma and ultimately succumbed to complications related to diabetes.
The RMS Titanic, which embarked on its maiden voyage from Southampton on April 10, has remained a point of public intrigue for over a century.
Originally expected to sell for around $80,000, this historical artifact fetched an astounding 300,000 pounds, approximately $399,000. Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge described it as “one of the finest of its type known.”
“Not only is it written by one of the most important first-class passengers on Titanic, the letter contains the most prophetic line,” Aldridge stated. “Five days later, Titanic was at the bottom of the North Atlantic.”
The continuing interest in the Titanic exemplifies its lasting impact on history and culture more than 110 years after the tragic event. In a related auction last November, a postcard from another Titanic victim sold for $25,000.
Additionally, during the same auction, a Tiffany and Co. timepiece, gifted to a Titanic rescuer, went for nearly $2 million—ten times its initial estimated value.
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