Titanic Letter from Survivor Fetches $399,000 at Auction

Wed Oct 22 2025 01:46:26 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A remarkable letter penned by Titanic survivor Colonel Archibald Gracie just days before the tragic sinking has sold for nearly $400,000 at auction.

Days before the ill-fated voyage, Colonel Archibald Gracie, a first-class passenger on the Titanic, wrote a letter describing the ship as a "fine ship" while awaiting the conclusion of his journey. Gracie was among the lucky few who survived the disaster that claimed over 1,500 lives. He later recounted gripping the ship's railing as it sank and found himself submerged in the freezing waters of the North Atlantic before managing to reach a life raft.

The letter, penned in elegant cursive, fetched an impressive $399,000 at an auction conducted by Henry Aldridge and Son in Wiltshire, England. The letter was addressed to an unnamed European ambassador and bore the distinctive "On board R.M.S. Titanic" letterhead, featuring a triangular red flag with a white star. Dated April 10, 1912, the letter was postmarked two days later in London, just before the ship struck an iceberg on April 14 and sank the following day.

The buyer of this historical artifact, who remains unnamed by the auction house, resides in the United States, enriching the Titanic legacy with yet another poignant piece of memorabilia. Andrew Aldridge, managing director of Henry Aldridge and Son, expressed his excitement over the letter's sale, underscoring its historical significance and connection to a tragic maritime event.