Henry Aldridge & Son

The Devizes Auctioneers

World Records Tumble in Devizes Saleroom

Henry Aldridge & Son held their second Titanic sale of 1999 on the 17th March. The media circus that surrounded the previous sale of the 20th January was again in evidence throughout the run up to the auction. Television and radio from around the globe covered what was described by one leading Titanic collector as one of the best auctions of Titanic and White Star items ever to be held. The magic of Titanic always makes for an interesting story and Henry Aldridge & Son based in the small Wiltshire market town of Devizes confirmed their growing reputation as one of the leading salerooms of White Star and Titanic collectables with a number of World and National records for this sale.

The reason for the commotion surrounding the auction was the entry of a number of important Titanic items new to the market. The Thomas Jones archive comprising of a silver watch which was presented by The Countess Of Rothes in thanks for his actions on board Lifeboat No 8 together with letters and postcards. Mr Jones was summoned from the SS Lapland to appear before The United States board of Enquiry this certificate together with the British Boards of Enquiries were sold, with his Board of Trade payment discharge certificate. The sale of the Jones collection produced a world record for the silver Benson pocket Watch given by the Countess with the hammer finally going down at an incredible £22,000. The Roberta Maioni Collection which featured so prominently in the press in the run up to the sale with coverage in the Daily Mail, Times, Telegraph and Daily Express together with BBC Television and Sky who ran the story on their news broadcasts. This caught the imagination of the media and general public alike due to the parallels with Rose and Jack in the Hollywood Movie "Titanic". This five cornered White Star was given reputably by one of the ships crew to Miss Maioni as a token of affection as the ship went down. The star together with a supporting letter confirming Miss Maioni's survival sold for £17,500 to an American buyer on the telephone.

These star lots could have potentially overshadowed the other 200 plus lots of Titanic items sold. But that was not the case with other Titanic letters from Steward Harry Bristow, Stewardess Alice Pritchard and Controller W.Jefferies all selling for between £4000 and £5000. Perhaps one of the saddest lots to go under the hammer was a postcard from a 21 year old man Edward Lockyer, he planned to go to America to start a new life, but sadly he did not reach his final destination.A badly damaged postcard sent from on board the ship to his mother and father sold for a staggering £5000. A fine selection of White Star Line plated wares were on show in the saleroom with prices ranging from £160 to over £1600 showing that the market in selected areas is still maintaining the sharp increases that it has shown in the first months of 1999. Henry Aldridge & Son will be holding its next auction of Titanic and White Star items in July of 1999.