April 28th 2024.
John Jacob Astor was a wealthy passenger on the Titanic, and unfortunately, he went down with the ship when it sank in 1912. But before his untimely death, he made sure that his wife Madeleine was safely aboard a lifeboat. It was a heartbreaking moment for him, but he knew that he had to put her safety first.
After his body was recovered a week later, a 14-carat gold pocket watch with his initials engraved on it was found. This watch was a symbol of his wealth and status, and it became even more significant after his death. Recently, the watch was sold at an auction for a record-breaking sum.
The auctioneer, Andrew Aldridge, explained that John Jacob Astor was known as the richest passenger on the Titanic, and one of the wealthiest people in the world at that time. His net worth was estimated to be around $87 million, which would be equivalent to several billion dollars today. On the night of April 14, 1912, at 11:40 pm, the Titanic hit an iceberg and began to sink. Astor, like many others, didn't believe the ship was in any real danger at first. But as the situation became more dire, he knew that he had to act quickly.
As the captain gave the order to evacuate, Astor helped his wife into one of the lifeboats. It was a difficult decision to make, but he knew that it was the only way to ensure her safety. Unfortunately, he didn't make it out alive and was last seen smoking a cigarette and talking with another passenger before his death.
His wife survived, and the watch was passed down to his son, Vincent, who then gave it to the son of Astor's executive secretary, William Dobbyn. The watch was eventually put up for auction at Henry Aldridge & Son in Wiltshire, where it was sold to an American private collector for a staggering £1.175 million, making it the most expensive piece of Titanic memorabilia ever sold.
This record-breaking sale surpassed the previous highest amount paid for Titanic artefacts, which was £1.1 million for a violin that was played as the ship sank. Interestingly, the violin was also sold at the same auction house in 2013. The case for the violin was also sold at the same auction as the pocket watch for an additional £360,000 including fees and taxes.
The auctioneer, Mr. Aldridge, was amazed by the prices fetched by Titanic memorabilia, calling them "absolutely incredible." He also noted that these prices not only reflect the importance and rarity of the artefacts but also the enduring appeal and fascination with the Titanic story. Even after 112 years, people are still captivated by the tragedy and the stories of the 2,200 passengers and crew members aboard the ship.
Mr. Aldridge also highlighted the significance of the personal stories behind these artefacts, saying that each passenger had their own unique tale to tell. And now, through these precious items, their stories continue to be told and remembered. The Titanic may have been a large ship that hit an iceberg, but it was also a vessel carrying 2,200 subplots, each one a part of the enduring legacy of this tragic event.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
