Cruising The Past Cruise News A menu of the first dinner served to first-class passengers on the RMS Titanic has sold for $70,000 at auction.
It was among 400 items being auctioned in Wiltshire, England, as part of the 100th anniversary of the ship’s sinking in the Atlantic Ocean.
(Left: RMS Titanic menu) The opulent menu is dated 10 April 1912, three days before the liner hit an iceberg on her maiden voyage and sank, killing 1,522 people.
It features several courses, such as roast duckling and fillet of veal.
The choices are really very limited compared to first class menus following World War 2 for Trans-Atlantic liner crossings. It pales in comparison to menus aboard the French Line, Cunard Line, Italian Line or United States Lines.
Andrew Aldridge, of Henry Aldridge and Son Auctioneers, said: “Menus from the Titanic are among the most sought after memorabilia from the doomed liner.”
The menu itself was the property of Charles Caswell, a first class steward, aged 34, from Southampton.
Mr Caswell sent the menu to his wife Hilda when Titanic stopped at Queenstown, but he later died when the ship sank.
Also featured in the sale was a gold medal awarded to the rescue ship Carpathia’s Second Officer James Bisset.
The gold medal is only the second to be offered for auction in the last 25 years
He later became Commodore of the Cunard line.
“After the survivors of the Titanic disaster were picked up by the Carpathia a committee was formed by a group of surviving First class passengers to reward the crew of the Carpathia and the Captain Sir Arthur Rostron with the silver loving cup and medals for all of the crew,” said Mr Aldridge.
“This is only the second gold Carpathia medal to be offered in the last 25 years and is thought to be the most senior officer’s medal to ever to go under the auctioneers hammer.”
The medal sold for $65,000.
Interest is high in the Titanic after the 100th anniversary of its sinking was marked earlier this year with a special cruise.
More light has also been shed on eccentric Australian billionaire Clive Palmer’s plans to build a new version of the ill-fated ship.
(Left: Clive Palmer) All public rooms, cabins and stairways from Deck D and above will mirror the original vessel’s features.
However, the Titanic II will not be an exact replica.
It has been given an overhaul for better safety with an extra deck to provide improved access to lifeboats.
