A rare and historically significant letter written on board the RMS Titanic by one of its most famous survivors, Archibald Gracie IV, has been sold at auction for an astonishing £300,000 ($399,390 or approximately ₹3.33 crore). The auction, held at Henry Aldridge & Son in Wiltshire, attracted global attention, with a private collector from the United States ultimately purchasing the item for five times its initial estimate of £60,000.
The lettercard, dated April 10, 1912, was penned by Gracie, a first-class passenger, on the very day the Titanic embarked on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. In the letter addressed to the seller’s great-uncle, Gracie noted, “It is a fine ship but I shall await my journey’s end before I pass judgment on her.” Tragically, just four days later, the Titanic struck an iceberg off the coast of Newfoundland and sank, leading to the loss of around 1,500 lives.
Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge described the letter as an “exceptional museum-grade piece,” emphasizing its rarity and historical importance. It is believed to be the only letter Gracie wrote while aboard the Titanic.
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Who Was Archibald Gracie IV?
Archibald Gracie came from a distinguished American lineage. His father was a Confederate officer during the American Civil War, and his great-grandfather built Gracie Mansion — now the official residence of the Mayor of New York City — in 1799. An accomplished amateur historian, Gracie had previously published a book on the Battle of Chickamauga, a key conflict in which his father fought.
On the night of the Titanic disaster, Gracie managed to survive by jumping into the freezing ocean and climbing onto an overturned lifeboat. He was later rescued by the RMS Carpathia, along with other survivors. After returning to New York, Gracie documented his harrowing experience in a book titled “The Truth about the Titanic,” which auctioneer Aldridge praised as one of the most detailed and valuable first-hand accounts of the tragedy.
Sadly, Gracie’s health deteriorated following the ordeal; he suffered from hypothermia-induced complications and succumbed to diabetes just months later, in December 1912, becoming the first adult Titanic survivor to die after the disaster.
The sale of Gracie’s letter highlights the ongoing fascination with the Titanic over a century after its tragic voyage, offering a deeply personal glimpse into the lives of those who experienced one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters.
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