Titanic crewman's hat ribbon sells for £34,000

A sailor's hat ribbon rescued from the sinking Titanic by a young boy has fetched £34,000 at auction. The embroidered hatband, which bears the name RMS Titanic in gold thread, was sold to an anonymous American bidder. It was auctioned at Southampton's Hilton Hotel, with a reserve price of £20,000 to £25,000.

Also at the auction, a carved oak section, believed to be from the grand staircase of the Titanic, fetched £20,000, while a postcard purchased on the ship went for £12,000.

The hatband is thought to be the only such souvenir from the fated liner. On April 15, 1912, eight-year-old Marshall Brines Drew took the ribbon with him as he was lowered from the Titanic on to lifeboat number 10 with his aunt. His uncle, who purchased the ribbon for Marshall in the ship's souvenir shop, was left on board and died.

I recall reading within the past week that there are now only three survivors from the Titanic. From Ananova.

Posted by David on April 11, 2003 10:58 PM