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Titanic memorabilia is auctioned in Wiltshire Last Titanic menu fetches £76,000
(about 9 hours later)
Hundreds of Titanic items have been auctioned in Wiltshire ahead of the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the ill-fated ocean liner. A menu of the last meal served to first-class passengers on board the Titanic has sold for £76,000.
The items included a first-class menu dated 14 April 1912, the last day aboard the stricken ship. It was among hundreds of items from the ship auctioned in Wiltshire ahead of the 100th anniversary of its sinking in the Atlantic Ocean.
Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: "It's a fascinating snapshot of life on board as a first-class passenger." The menu was dated 14 April 1912, the day the cruiser hit an iceberg and sank, killing 1,522 people.
The ship sailed from Southampton on its maiden voyage. More than 550 people from the city died in the disaster. It featured several courses, such as eggs Argenteuil, consomme fermier and chicken a la Maryland.
The items also included letters and a set of storeroom keys where the ship's lifeboat lanterns were stored.
'Finest restaurant''Finest restaurant'
The first-class menu shows several courses on offer, such as eggs Argenteuil, consomme fermier and chicken a la Maryland. Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: "It's a fascinating snapshot of life on board as a first-class passenger.
"What we have to consider is that the Titanic was regarded as the finest restaurant afloat and this does illustrate that point. There are over 40 different options for one lunch," said Mr Aldridge. "What we have to consider is that the Titanic was regarded as the finest restaurant afloat and this does illustrate that point. There are over 40 different options for one lunch."
The menu was on the table of the first-class passenger Dr Washington Dodge, a prominent banker from San Francisco who was with his wife and son. The letter had been in Ruth Dodge's purse when she on board a lifeboat. The menu was on the table of the first-class passenger Dr Washington Dodge, a prominent banker from San Francisco who was with his wife and son. The letter had been in Ruth Dodge's purse when she escpaed on board a lifeboat.
She and her son survived the tragedy and the menu has stayed with the family ever since. She and her son survived the tragedy.
One letter auctioned off was written by the second in command of the Titanic, Chief Officer Henry Wilde. Other items sold at the auction included a set of keys for the storeroom where the ship's lifeboat lanterns were kept.
Mr Wilde was deputy to Captain EJ Smith and died in the disaster which claimed 1,500 lives. The keys, which were used by crewman Samuel Hemming, sold for £59,000 to an American collector.
"The keys themselves played a part in the story as they were actually used in those last desperate hours," said Mr Aldridge.
"This is because Mr Hemming received a personal order from the captain as the ship was sinking and it became apparent all was lost to ensure all of the lifeboats were provided with lamps."
One letter auctioned off for £29,000 to a UK collector was written by the second in command of the Titanic, Chief Officer Henry Wilde.
Mr Wilde was deputy to Captain EJ Smith and died in the disaster.
In the letter to his family, written on Titanic letter-headed stationary, he praises the Titanic, describing her as a "wonderful ship the latest thing in shipbuilding".In the letter to his family, written on Titanic letter-headed stationary, he praises the Titanic, describing her as a "wonderful ship the latest thing in shipbuilding".
A second letter was written by James Arthur Paignton, the captain's steward. A second letter, which sold for £39,000, was written by James Arthur Paignton, the captain's steward.
Also among the items sold was a set of storeroom keys used by a crewman, Samuel Hemming, to fetch lanterns for the lifeboats.
"The keys themselves played a part in the story as they were actually used in those last desperate hours.
"This is because Mr Hemming received a personal order from the captain as the ship was sinking and it became apparent all was lost to ensure all of the lifeboats were provided with lamps," said Mr Aldridge.
The auction took place at Henry Aldridge and Sons auction house in Devizes on Saturday afternoon.The auction took place at Henry Aldridge and Sons auction house in Devizes on Saturday afternoon.