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A distinctive life jacket, once worn by a survivor of the Titanic, is slated for auction more than a century after the tragic event.
The flotation device, utilized by first-class passenger Laura Mabel Francatelli during the ship’s 1912 immersion, is projected to fetch between approximately $339,000 and $475,000, according to the news agency Cover Media.
Francatelli donned the life jacket as she boarded Lifeboat No. 1 following the Titanic’s collision with an iceberg just before midnight on April 14, 1912. She subsequently signed the artifact along with seven other individuals who were also aboard that lifeboat.
The life jacket remained within her family for numerous decades before a private collector acquired it roughly 20 years ago.
It is believed to be among a very limited number of Titanic life jackets still in existence — and remarkably, the sole one to ever be presented at an auction, as noted by Cover Media.
A life jacket that belonged to Titanic survivor Laura Francatelli (not pictured) is heading to auction and could command a price of up to about $475,000. (Zachary Culpin/BNPS)
Auctioneers at Henry Aldridge & Son have reported significant global interest in the item leading up to the sale, which is scheduled for April 18.
Francatelli, who was merely 22 years old at the time, embarked on the Titanic in France and was traveling in the capacity of a secretary to the renowned fashion designer Lady Lucy Duff Gordon and her spouse, Sir Cosmo Duff Gordon.
She later recounted being reassured not to be concerned as she was assisted into a life preserver before proceeding to the ship’s deck, where lifeboats were being prepared for deployment.
Francatelli wore the life jacket as she boarded Lifeboat No. 1 after the Titanic struck an iceberg shortly before midnight on April 14, 1912. (BNPS)
The group eventually boarded Lifeboat No. 1 — a vessel with a capacity for approximately 40 individuals, yet it was launched with only 12 people aboard.
This particular lifeboat later became a focal point of contention due to its occupants’ decision not to return to assist those in the frigid water. Contemporary accounts also raised inquiries regarding financial transactions involving Sir Cosmo and crew members, although the exact circumstances remain a subject of considerable discussion.
The survivors were ultimately rescued by the RMS Carpathia, which arrived several hours after the Titanic had sunk, saving over 700 passengers.
Francatelli subsequently returned to Britain and married Maximilian Haering, a Swiss-born hotel manager, in 1913.
The couple eventually relocated to New York, where they pursued careers in the hospitality sector and managed hotels collaboratively.
Francatelli, highlighted in the circle, was among the individuals rescued by the RMS Carpathia hours after the maritime catastrophe. (Henry Aldridge & Son/BNPS.co.uk)
Following her husband’s passing, she made her way back to the United Kingdom — where she resided for the remainder of her life until her demise in 1967.
The cream-hued life jacket, constructed from canvas with integrated cork-filled compartments, has been showcased in museums in both the United States and Europe.
“There are only a scant few life jackets worn by survivors that remain today,” auctioneer Andrew Aldridge informed Cover Media, adding that the majority are preserved in museum collections and are not anticipated to be sold.
The forthcoming sale is expected to attract enthusiasts and collectors of history from across the globe.