Titanic survivor's life jacket sells for £670,000 at auction

A life jacket worn by Titanic survivor Laura Mabel Francatelli has sold at auction for £670,000.

The sale took place at Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, Wiltshire, marking the first time in 114 years that a Titanic survivor's life jacket has appeared at auction.

Francatelli, a first-class passenger, was among approximately 700 people who survived the 1912 disaster.

The life jacket, which she used before boarding a lifeboat, features 12 pockets, shoulder rests, and side straps, and was signed by Francatelli and other survivors.

The auction price far exceeded expectations, with initial estimates ranging between £250,000 and £350,000.

Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge described the sale as a "once in a lifetime opportunity for collectors" and expressed enthusiasm about the ongoing interest in the Titanic story.

Alongside the life jacket, a lifeboat seat cushion from the Titanic was also sold for £390,000.

The cushion was purchased by the Titanic Museum Attraction in Tennessee and Missouri and is set to be displayed there.

This auction coincided with the 114th anniversary of the Titanic tragedy, which was commemorated in Southampton on 14 April.

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