Titanic Passenger's Pocket Watch Expected to Fetch £1m at Auction
Key Insights
The pocket watch belonged to Isidor Straus, a wealthy businessman and co-owner of Macy's department store.
Isidor and his wife Ida were known for their devotion to each other, with Ida famously refusing a place on a lifeboat to stay with her husband.
The watch is believed to have been a gift from Ida to Isidor in 1888.
The auction will also include a letter written by Ida Straus aboard the Titanic.
A gold pocket watch presented to the captain of the Carpathia , the steamship which rescued more than 700 Titanic survivors, sold last year for a record-breaking £1.56m.
The watch is set to become one of the most expensive Titanic artefacts ever sold.
Why does this matter? The auction of this watch provides a tangible link to the personal stories of those who perished in the Titanic disaster. It highlights the Straus' devotion to each other, a story that has resonated for over a century.
In-Depth Analysis
Isidor Straus and his wife Ida were first-class passengers on the Titanic, traveling back to New York from Europe. When the ship struck an iceberg and began to sink, Isidor was offered a seat on a lifeboat due to his age, but he refused to go before other men. Ida then refused to leave her husband, famously stating, "Where you go, I go."
The 18-carat gold Jules Jurgensen pocket watch is engraved with Isidor Straus' initials and is believed to have been a gift from Ida to her husband in 1888. The watch stopped at 2:20 a.m., marking the moment the Titanic disappeared beneath the waves.
The watch, along with a rare letter written by Ida aboard the liner describing its luxury, will be sold by Henry Aldridge & Son in Wiltshire. The letter is postmarked "TransAtlantic 7," indicating it was franked on board the Titanic before being taken off the ship at Queenstown, Ireland. The watch is expected to fetch £1 million, while the letter is estimated to sell for £150,000.
The auction has generated significant interest from collectors worldwide. The story of Isidor and Ida Straus continues to captivate people more than a century after the Titanic disaster, with their love story serving as a symbol of devotion and sacrifice.
FAQs
Q: Who were Isidor and Ida Straus?
Isidor Straus was a co-owner of Macy's department store, and Ida Straus was his wife. They were first-class passengers on the Titanic.
Q: What is special about the pocket watch?
The pocket watch belonged to Isidor Straus and stopped at the moment the Titanic sank. It is believed to have been a gift from his wife, Ida.
Q: Where will the auction take place?
The auction will be held by Henry Aldridge & Son in Wiltshire.
Key Takeaways
The auction of Isidor Straus' pocket watch offers a glimpse into the lives of those who perished in the Titanic disaster.
The story of Isidor and Ida Straus' devotion to each other continues to resonate with people around the world.
The watch serves as a tangible reminder of the human cost of the Titanic tragedy.
Discussion
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