SALE: Titanic Memorabilia in New York
LOCATION: Guernsey's and Bonhams, New York
DATE: April 11-15
ABOUT: There are two very different auctions this week having to do with the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. At Guernsey's you can buy the whole of the memorabilia salvaged from the wreck site, as well as future salvaging rights to the wreck itself — but only if you have around $180 million to buy it as a single lot, as mandated by a court in Virginia. If you do have that much cash laying around, you should consider spending it on the 5,500 objects collected by the previous salvaging company, Premier Exhibitions, including clothing, fine china, binoculars, watches, and a piece of the hull (although many expect someone to buy it as a museum donation). Note that this is a closed auction, and serious bidders should contact the auction house.
Bonhams, on the other hand, is hosting a more traditional affair on the anniversary of the ship's sinking, April 15. The sale is rather small — only 87 lots — and includes a "Carpethia medal," given to the crew of the ship that rescued Titanic survivors (est. $8,000-12,000), collections of newspapers relating to the disaster (est. $1,000-1,500), and the original rescue captain's hand-written report of the disaster, which could fetch $90,000-120,000.
Also on offer, less authentic but no less integral for the true Titanic fan, is a reproduction of Rose's "Heart of the Ocean" necklace from the James Cameron movie "Titanic" (est. $400-600).
OTHER INTERNATIONAL SALES:
Sale: Important Books, Atlases, and Manuscripts: The Private Library of Kenneth Nebenzahl
Location: Christie's New York
Date: April 10, 6pm
Sale: Fine Books
Location: Swann New York
Date: April 12, 10:30am
Sale: Wine
Location: Christie's New York
Date: April 13, 10am
To see pieces from next week's Titanic sales click the slide show.