Titanic survivor's life jacket sells for $906,000 at auction

A life jacket worn by Titanic survivor Laura Mabel Francatelli sold for $906,000 at auction on April 18. The canvas vest, manufactured by Fosbery & Co. and filled with cork, represents the only known life jacket from a Titanic survivor ever sold. Francatelli, a British first-class passenger traveling as secretary to fashion designer Lucy Duff-Gordon, wore the jacket during the 1912 disaster after receiving it from a man who assured her it was merely a precaution. She boarded an emergency lifeboat with the Duff-Gordons that launched with only 12 people despite a 40-person capacity. The jacket bears signatures from eight passengers from that lifeboat and remained in Francatelli's family until a private collector acquired it approximately two decades ago. Auction house Henry Aldridge & Son, which specializes in Titanic memorabilia and holds annual sales marking the sinking anniversary, conducted the sale. Managing director Andrew Aldridge noted the record price reflects enduring public fascination with Titanic stories. The vessel carried only 20 lifeboats on its maiden voyage despite capacity for 64, and many launched below capacity. Over 1,500 of the approximately 2,200 people aboard died, with many victims succumbing to hypothermia while kept afloat by cork life vests. The wreckage was discovered in 1985 at 12,000 feet depth. Other items in this year's sale included a lifeboat seat cushion and handwritten Titanic stationery.