A letter recovered from the body of a First Class passenger on the Titanic has been sold at auction for a world record price of £126,000.
Alexander Oskar Holverson, 42, penned the poignant message to his mother the night before the doomed ocean liner hit an iceberg and sank on April 14 1912.
Over three pages, Mr Holverson described the luxurious surroundings of the vessel and even predicted that ‘if all goes well we will arrive in New York on Wednesday’.
Alexander Holverson wrote the letter to his mother as he sailed on the doomed liner, while returning home to the US after travelling Europe with his wife Mary (right, both pictured)
Mr Holverson’s note (pictured) was initially valued at a whopping £80,000 but actually broke the previous record for a Titanic letter of £119,000
However, sadly, just like the other 1,522 passengers and crew who died as the ship sank within three hours of hitting the berg, he would never reach his destination.
Mr Holverson’s note was initially valued at a whopping £80,000 but actually broke the previous record for a Titanic letter of £119,000.
The letter remained in his family for years and has now sold at auction in Devizes, Wiltshire, via a third party.
Most Titanic letters that come on the market had been posted in Cherbourg in France or Queenstown, Ireland – the last port of call for the liner.
Andrew Aldridge, of Henry Aldridge and Son Auctioneers, said this is the last known letter written on board by a victim.
Two years ago a letter written on April 14, 1912, by passenger Esther Hart, who survived the sinking, sold for a record £119,000.
Over three pages on White Star Line headed notepaper, Mr Holverson described the ‘palatial’ surroundings of the Titanic and made reference to fellow passenger, John Jacob Astor
On April 13 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank within three hours with the loss of 1,522 passengers and crew
Over three pages on White Star Line headed notepaper, Mr Holverson told his mother: ‘this boat is giant in size and fitted up like a palacial hotel. The food and music is excellent’.
The letter is also the only one of its kind to reference the Titanic’s most famous and richest passenger, John Jacob Astor, who was on a par with Bill Gates in terms of his wealth.
Mr Holverson wrote how he sat out on deck with the US businessman who ‘looks like any other human being even tho he has millions of money’.
Mr Holverson’s body was recovered from the Atlantic days later and his personal effects were sent back to his brother in Minnesota, US.
John Jacob Astor (left) and his wife Nancy (right) were among the most famous passengers on the Titanic
These included a pocketbook in which was folded the letter that was heavily water stained.
Accompanying the Holverson letter is a sad note written by his grieving mother, Rachael, describing her loss.
There is also a touching photograph of Mr Holverson and his wife Mary taken in New York before they embarked on a trip to Europe. Mary survived the disaster which happened as they returned to the US.
A set of rusty locker keys that belonged to a cabin steward who survived sold for £76,000 and a pair of previously unseen photos of the Titanic leaving Southampton on its doomed voyage made £24,000.
Mr Aldridge said: ‘The prices illustrate the enduring interest in the Titanic and her passengers and crew.
Left, Mr Holverson’s note on Red Star liner headed paper and right, a letter from Mr Holverson’s grieving mother (Rachael ) to his brother Walter after the tragic news
‘I’m delighted with the new world record for the Titanic letter, it reflects its status as the most important Titanic letter we have ever auctioned.
‘Since this one was recovered from Mr Holverson’s body he obviously had hoped to send it on to his mother from New York.
‘While the ink and wording has not run, the letter displays some colourful stains to the last page which was the page mostly exposed to the water evident from the way the letter had been folded by Holverson.
‘If this letter was virtually unreadable it would still rank amongst the most desirable. Yet the content takes it to another level.
‘It is the only letter to be written on April 13 that has been recovered and the only letter written on board Titanic stationary to have been recovered from a victim.
‘It is also the only letter to mention John Jacob Astor, one of the richest and most powerful men in the world at the time.
‘It is also gives us an unparallelled snapshot into life on board this liner for first class passengers.
‘But the saddest element to the letter is about the anticipated arrival in New York which of course never happened. It is as if he knew that things may not have gone well.’