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Rare Titanic life jacket sells for record sum
A life jacket worn by a first-class passenger who survived the 1912 Titanic disaster has been sold at auction in England for £670,000, far exceeding initial estimates.
Unique historical artifact
The cork-filled vest, the only known life jacket from a Titanic survivor to appear at auction in 114 years, belonged to Laura Mabel Francatelli. She was among approximately 700 people who escaped the sinking ship after it struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic.
Francatelli and other survivors signed the jacket, which features 12 pockets, shoulder rests, and adjustable side straps. Auctioneer Henry Aldridge & Son, based in Devizes, Wiltshire, described the sale as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" for collectors.
Auctioneer hails strong demand
Andrew Aldridge, who led the auction, said he was "ecstatic" with the final price, calling it a testament to the enduring fascination with the Titanic's history. The jacket was expected to sell for between £250,000 and £350,000 but attracted fierce bidding.
"It reflects the ongoing interest and passion for the story of the Titanic, and its passengers and crew."
Andrew Aldridge, Auctioneer
Additional Titanic items sold
At the same auction, a seat cushion from one of the ship's lifeboats fetched £390,000. The cushion had been owned by a friend of Richard William Smith, a London tea importer who drowned in the disaster. Smith, traveling to meet a business associate in Brooklyn, was among the 1,500 victims whose bodies were never recovered.
The cushion was purchased by the Titanic Museum Attraction in the United States, with locations in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and Branson, Missouri. It will be displayed in an upcoming exhibition.
Anniversary commemorations
The auction coincided with the 114th anniversary of the Titanic's sinking, marked in Southampton on 14 April. The English port city was the ship's final departure point before its ill-fated voyage.
