Laura Mabel Francatelli’s life jacket sold for £670,000 at auction in the UK/Photo: BBC
A life jacket worn by a Titanic survivor has sold at auction for 670,000 pounds ($906,000), far exceeding its estimated value, according to the Associated Press.The jacket belonged to Laura Mabel Francatelli, a first-class passenger on the RMS Titanic who survived the 1912 disaster.
She was traveling with fashion designer Lucy Duff-Gordon and her husband, Cosmo Duff-Gordon, and escaped in Lifeboat No. 1.
1.The rare piece was auctioned by Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, England, and sold to an anonymous bidder by phone. Its price was expected to range between £250,000 and £350,000, but the final price far exceeded this range.The flotation device was signed by Francatelli and other survivors from the same lifeboat.
It features canvas material with cork-filled pockets, as well as shoulder supports and straps.Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said the strong sale reflects continued public interest in the Titanic story. “These record prices demonstrate the continued interest in the Titanic story and respect for the passengers and crew,” he said.Another item from the same auction, a seat cushion from one of Titanic’s lifeboats, sold for £390,000.
It was purchased by the owners of Titanic museums in the United States.The RMS Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, after striking an iceberg during its maiden voyage from England to New York. About 1,500 people out of 2,200 people on board the plane died, while only about 700 survived.The ship remains one of the most famous maritime disasters, with memorabilia continuing to attract global attention
