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Rare Titanic life vest at auction Rare Titanic life vest at auction
(about 6 hours later)
One of the few remaining lifejackets from the Titanic is expected to fetch up to £40,000 at an auction.One of the few remaining lifejackets from the Titanic is expected to fetch up to £40,000 at an auction.
The vest is among 360 items connected to the disaster going under the hammer at Henry Aldridge & Son in Wiltshire.The vest is among 360 items connected to the disaster going under the hammer at Henry Aldridge & Son in Wiltshire.
Dozens of letters, sent by passengers before the ship sank in 1912 on its maiden voyage with the loss of more than 1,500 lives, will also be sold. Dozens of letters, sent by passengers before the Titanic sank in 1912 on its maiden voyage with the loss of more than 1,500 lives, will also be sold.
And there is a controversial telegram from Titanic owner the White Star Line stating she was being towed to safety. There is also a telegram from the Southampton-based ship's owner stating she was being towed to safety.
The telegram was sent after an inquiry was received from a US senator whose daughter and son-in-law were on board the ship. The White Star Line's telegram was sent after an inquiry was received from a US senator whose daughter and son-in-law were on board the ship.
Auctioneer Alan Aldridge expects the lot to fetch up to £10,000.Auctioneer Alan Aldridge expects the lot to fetch up to £10,000.
The company did not want souvenir hunters, so a lot of things, including clothing, were put in big piles and burned Alan Aldridge, auctioneer
"Initially it was said everybody on board had been saved and the ship was being towed," he said."Initially it was said everybody on board had been saved and the ship was being towed," he said.
"When it was found out it was a major disaster, everyone from the White Star Line denied sending this telegram.""When it was found out it was a major disaster, everyone from the White Star Line denied sending this telegram."
Class systemClass system
The white lifejacket, discovered in the debris after the passenger liner went down after hitting an iceberg in the Atlantic, has been on display in a US museum.The white lifejacket, discovered in the debris after the passenger liner went down after hitting an iceberg in the Atlantic, has been on display in a US museum.
Mr Aldridge said the lot's anticipated value comes from its rarity.Mr Aldridge said the lot's anticipated value comes from its rarity.
There are only about six or seven lifejackets left in existence, he said.There are only about six or seven lifejackets left in existence, he said.
"The company did not want souvenir hunters, so a lot of things, including clothing, were put in big piles and burned.""The company did not want souvenir hunters, so a lot of things, including clothing, were put in big piles and burned."
One of the letters on sale pokes fun the class system on board the ship. One of the letters on sale pokes fun at the class system on board the ship.
It was penned by Irish aristocrat Edward Colley, who died on his 37th birthday and had been travelling among a social set that came to be known as Helen Churchill Candee's coterie.It was penned by Irish aristocrat Edward Colley, who died on his 37th birthday and had been travelling among a social set that came to be known as Helen Churchill Candee's coterie.
Another letter on official Titanic paper was from a passenger called James Hocking.Another letter on official Titanic paper was from a passenger called James Hocking.
"Everyone tells me I won't regret taking this trip on the ship," he wrote."Everyone tells me I won't regret taking this trip on the ship," he wrote.