Titanic first class dinner menu sold for $100,000
A dinner menu for first-class passengers on the Titanic was recently sold at auction in England for £83,000 (around $101450), the Guardian reported.
This menu is of significant historical value as it represents the meal served just three days before the infamous ship struck an iceberg and sank on April 14, 1912.
Titanic first-class dinner menu sold for $100,000
The auctioned dinner menu offers a glimpse into the luxurious dining experience enjoyed by the first-class passengers aboard the Titanic.
Its water-stained pages bear the iconic “White Star” logo and list a variety of sumptuous dishes served on April 11, 1912. Among the offerings were oysters, salmon, beef, duck, chicken, and a selection of potatoes, rice, and parsnip mash.
One intriguing aspect of this dinner menu is the speculation about who took it during the chaotic evacuation of the lifeboats.
The auctioned item’s stained condition suggests that it may have been retrieved from the ship or had contact with water during the tragic incident. This raises questions about the person who possessed it and their experience aboard the doomed vessel.
The menu’s historical significance lies not only in its connection to the Titanic but also in its rare survival as a first-class artifact from that fateful evening.
Andrew Aldridge, director of the auction house, has stated that extensive research within the museum community and among Titanic collectors failed to find another surviving first-class menu. This makes the auctioned item an exceptionally valuable piece of history.
Interestingly, the dinner menu’s discovery was made within a 1960s photo album belonging to Len Stephenson, a community historian from Dominion, Nova Scotia.
It is uncertain how and when the menu found its way into Stephenson’s possession, but its inclusion in the photo album underscores its significance as a cherished keepsake.
Although various Titanic artifacts were included in the auction, items were categorized based on their origin. Some artifacts were retrieved from the wreck itself, while others were owned by survivors.
The dinner menu from April 11, however, falls into the category of those likely taken items as mementos from the ship. Its preservation serves as a poignant reminder of the grandeur and tragedy associated with the Titanic’s ill-fated maiden voyage.
Its survival, stained and bearing the “White Star” logo, adds to the characteristic rarity of the artifact. The sale of this menu not only speaks to our fascination with the Titanic but also serves as a reminder of the human stories and historical significance associated with the legendary ship.
