In a record-breaking bid, a pocket watch endowed to the commander who rescued lots of Titanic victims has been sold for a £1.56 million. The silver watch, previously owned by Captain Arthur Rostron of the RMS Carpathia, was purchased by a personal collection in the US at an auction held by Henry Aldridge &, Son in Devizes, Wiltshire.
The price for Titanic memorabilia that was paid for it is the highest ever value. It surpasses the previous record set in April, when John Jacob Astor, a rider on the Titanic, purchased a gold pocket watch for$ 1.1 million.
Confirming the price, Henry Aldridge &, Son Ltd made a social media post and said,” What an amazing evening, the show of today’s bid was the price of the Rostron Tiffany Watch, it sold for a prime inclusive £1.567m a new world record rate for Titanic memorabilia”.
Captain Rostron received the 18-carat Tiffany &, Co timepiece from three grateful women he rescued: John B Thayer, John Jacob Astor, and George D Widener. The watch’s inscription reads,” Presented to Captain Rostron with the heartfelt gratitude and appreciation of three Titanic survivors, April 15th, 1912, Mrs. John B. Thayer, Mrs. John Jacob Astor, and Mrs. George D. Widener.” The Carpathia, under Rostron’s command, rescued 705 survivors from the Titanic’s lifeboats.
” It was presented principally in gratitude for Rostron’s bravery in saving those lives, because without Mr Rostron, those 700 people would n’t have made it”, said auctioneer Andrew Aldridge, according to the Guardian reports.
Noting the continuing fascination with the Titanic tragedy and its artifacts, Aldridge pointed out an “ever-decreasing supply and an ever-increasing demand” for such items, leading to rapidly rising prices. The violin, which was used to sell the cruise ship for £1.1 million in 2013, held the record for the highest sum of money paid for Titanic artefacts.
