Rare Titanic Artifact Expected to Fetch £35,000 at Auction
A rare letter written by Titanic passenger Henry Price Hodges just days before the ship sank is set to be auctioned by Henry Aldridge and Son in Devizes, Wiltshire. According to the auction house, the document is expected to reach a sale price of up to £35,000. The letter, dated April 10, 1912, offers a firsthand account of the initial days of the voyage before the disaster on April 15, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,500 people.
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A Glimpse into Daily Life Aboard the Titanic
In the correspondence addressed to Hector Young of the Conservative Association in Newtown, Southampton, Hodges described a calm and pleasant atmosphere. He noted that he felt “hardly any movement” from the ship and praised the favorable weather conditions. Hodges, who traveled with ticket number 250643 at a cost of £13, was en route to Boston to visit relatives.
The letter captures a moment of normalcy, with Hodges detailing the activities of his fellow passengers. He wrote of approximately 200 men on the upper deck singing, while others occupied themselves with cards, dominoes, reading, or writing. “Everything is quite different from what one would expect to see at sea,” he observed in the text.
Historical Significance of the Hodges Correspondence
Andrew Aldridge of Henry Aldridge and Son described the letter as a “historically priceless snapshot” of life on the vessel. The document was postmarked in Queenstown, marking the final stop before the ship ventured into the North Atlantic. For historians, the letter serves as a rare primary source illustrating the human experience of the voyage, juxtaposed against the catastrophe that followed only four days later.
Following the sinking, the body of Henry Price Hodges was recovered and subsequently interred at the Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was Henry Price Hodges? He was a second-class passenger on the Titanic who was traveling to Boston to visit family.
- Why is this letter considered rare?
- Where will the auction take place? The auction is hosted by Henry Aldridge and Son in Devizes, Wiltshire.
- What is the estimated value of the letter? The auction house expects the item to sell for up to £35,000.
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