Florida - It may be one of the last known letters to have been written on the Titanic, and it just sold at auction for a record price.
The Titanic stationary along with the hand-written letter from American businessman and Titanic passenger, Oscar Holverson is the only known headed-letter to have gone down with the Titanic, and yet somehow managed to survive the ravages of the Atlantic.
When the hammer finally fell, the salt-stained letter fetched $166,000 at British auction house, Henry Aldridge & Son. The auction house had originally predicted the item would sell for between $75,000 to $105,000. The identity of the final bidder remained anonymous, but auctioneer Aldridge described him as someone known for, "Collecting iconic items from history."
The letter written by Mr Holverson, was intended for his mother as he and his wife were traveling on the ship back to New York from Southhampton. The letter eerily contains the foreboding line, "If all goes well we will arrive in New York Wednesday A.M."
Part of the reason for the letters extreme desirability from collectors is due to the fact that it was written one day prior to the ships sinking, along with some of Holverson's anecdotal recollections of his time aboard the liner - including descriptions of the ship's palatial accoutrements, and coming into contact with the world's richest man at the time, John Jacob Astor. Both men died in the sinking.
The previous record for Titanic related paper-memorabilia was set in 2014, when a surviving passenger's letter fetched $157,000 at the same auction house.
- A.I.A. Staff Writers
The Titanic stationary along with the hand-written letter from American businessman and Titanic passenger, Oscar Holverson is the only known headed-letter to have gone down with the Titanic, and yet somehow managed to survive the ravages of the Atlantic.
When the hammer finally fell, the salt-stained letter fetched $166,000 at British auction house, Henry Aldridge & Son. The auction house had originally predicted the item would sell for between $75,000 to $105,000. The identity of the final bidder remained anonymous, but auctioneer Aldridge described him as someone known for, "Collecting iconic items from history."
The letter written by Mr Holverson, was intended for his mother as he and his wife were traveling on the ship back to New York from Southhampton. The letter eerily contains the foreboding line, "If all goes well we will arrive in New York Wednesday A.M."
Part of the reason for the letters extreme desirability from collectors is due to the fact that it was written one day prior to the ships sinking, along with some of Holverson's anecdotal recollections of his time aboard the liner - including descriptions of the ship's palatial accoutrements, and coming into contact with the world's richest man at the time, John Jacob Astor. Both men died in the sinking.
The previous record for Titanic related paper-memorabilia was set in 2014, when a surviving passenger's letter fetched $157,000 at the same auction house.
- A.I.A. Staff Writers
NOTE: For readers seeking more information about the Asheford Institute Of Antiques distance-learning program on professional-level appraising, the study of antiques, collectibles, vintage and mid-century modern items, please click here to visit the school's Home Page.
Should you have additional questions about the Asheford program, you can also write to the school at: asheford@mail.com or call the Registrar's Office toll-free at: 1-877-444-4508.
Should you have additional questions about the Asheford program, you can also write to the school at: asheford@mail.com or call the Registrar's Office toll-free at: 1-877-444-4508.
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