3308 EXCEPTIONALLY RARE AND HISTORIC WHITE STAR LINE

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This item SOLD at 2023 May 14 @ 15:04UTC-4 : AST/EDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 1,000.00 USD
Estimated at 2,000.00 - 3,000.00 USD

BUTTON FROM A SURVIVOR OF THE TITANIC. This button represents an incident infamous in the annals of maritime history, the sinking of the RMS Titanic. This button was worn by the chief barber onboard named Charles Weikman from Palmyra, NJ. On the night of April 12, 1912, the Titanic struck an iceberg and proceeded to sink in Arctic waters. Charles Weikman was ordered to prepare the lifeboats for passenger evacuation. Subsequent to the entire compliment of lifeboats leaving the ship the remaining crew gathered on the top deck. Weikman reports hearing terrible cries as the stern of the ship slowly sunk toward oblivion. During the final death throes of the great ship the stern rose out of the water to a nearly perpendicular position. At this point, Weikman was thrown into the water clear of the sinking. He attempted to make his way toward floating debris as the boiler exploded during the ship’s sinking. The ensuing wave cast him up on a small floating island of wreckage. Shortly thereafter he lost consciousness and awoke to being rescued by one of the many lifeboats. A button worn by Weikman on his uniform during his ordeal is offered here. The button depicts a White Star Line company flag with a rope border. The reverse is marked “RAYNER & SONS . LIVERPOOL . “, which is correct for the 1910 to 1912 period when Titanic was outfitted. The button also has a letter D next to the shank. It is attached to an original card, inscribed with a dip pen, that reads “Button from Mr. Weikman’s coat of the crew of the Titanic at the time of its sinking. Mr. Weikman of Palmyra, N.J. was rescued. Given by his daughter Helen to me while she was one of my students at Palmyra High School.” UNATTACHED ACCESSORIES: several pages of provenance and news stories about the button. There is a notarized letter from a previous owner of the button as well as documentation from a previous sale of the button. CONDITION: the button has a pleasing patina with traces of gilt remaining. The shank is straight and the back mark is clear. The attached note is quite yellowed attesting to its age, but the inscription remains clear. (02-18118/BF). $2,000-3,000.