Titanic Survivor’s Life Jacket Sells for Record £670,000

 A life jacket worn by a first-class survivor during the sinking of the RMS Titanic has sold at auction for a staggering £670,000 (approximately ₱53.4 million). The rare artifact, made of canvas and cork, was worn by Laura Mabel Francatelli as she escaped the doomed ocean liner in a lifeboat. Adding to its historical value, the vest is signed by Francatelli and several other survivors from the same craft.

The item was the centerpiece of a major memorabilia sale held by Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, England, on Saturday, April 18, 2026. It far exceeded its initial presale estimate of £250,000 to £350,000, selling to an unidentified telephone bidder.

Other significant sales from the same auction included:

Lifeboat Seat Cushion: Sold for £390,000 (over ₱31.1 million) to the owners of Titanic museums in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and Branson, Missouri.

Historical Context: Once the world's most luxurious liner, the Titanic struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage from England to New York. It sank in the early hours of April 15, 1912, resulting in the deaths of roughly 1,500 of the 2,200 people on board.

Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge noted that these "record-breaking prices" reflect the enduring global fascination and respect for the stories of those aboard the ship.