A historic letter written by Colonel Archibald Gracie on April 10, 1912, during his first day aboard the Titanic, has been sold at auction for approximately $399,000. The letter, preserved for over a century, reflects Gracie’s initial impression of the ship, stating, “It is a fine ship, but I shall await my journey’s end before I pass judgment on her.” It was sent to an acquaintance at the Waldorf Hotel in London and postmarked shortly thereafter.
The auction, conducted by Henry Aldridge and Son in Wiltshire, England, estimated the letter would sell for between £40,000 and £60,000, significantly lower than the final sale price. A private collector from the U.S. acquired the letter, which was sold by the great-nephew of the original recipient.
Gracie, who was 54 at the time, is notable for surviving the Titanic disaster and later authored “The Truth about the Titanic,” detailing his harrowing experience. Before boarding the Titanic, he had spent seven years writing a book on the Battle of Chickamauga and had sailed to Europe on another ship, the Oceanic.
On the fateful night of April 15, 1912, after participating in social activities aboard the ship, Gracie was jolted awake to discover the Titanic had struck an iceberg. He managed to survive by clinging to an upturned lifeboat and was rescued by the Carpathia, arriving back in New York as one of only 706 survivors. Sadly, Gracie’s health deteriorated after the ordeal, and he died shortly thereafter on December 4, 1912.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
