Titanic survivor’s gift to rescue ship Carpathia’s captain set for auction

The American socialite, who later famously became known as the “unsinkable Molly Brown”, survived the sinking of the ship when it struck an iceberg on April 14 1912 during its maiden voyage to New York from Southampton, claiming the lives of around 1,500 people.

Brown – who became one of the Titanic’s most famous survivors – presented the sterling silver loving cup to the Carpathia’s captain, Sir Arthur Henry Rostron, in a ceremony in New York the following month.

Capt Rostron and his crew rescued 705 Titanic survivors and Brown was on one of the last lifeboats to reach his ship.

Once aboard Brown helped establish a committee to raise money for destitute survivors.

The cup will go under the hammer alongside a host of other Titanic memorabilia in an auction on Saturday at Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, Wiltshire.

The dedication reads: “Presented to Captain A. H. Rostron RD, RNR, Commander of the RMS Carpathia.

“In grateful recognition and appreciation of his heroic and efficient service in the rescue of the survivors of the Titanic on April 15th 1912, and of the generous and sympathetic treatment he accorded us on his ship. From the Survivors of the Titanic.”

The cup is impressed with marks on the base for the Whiting Manufacturing Company and Sterling, 1387, 8 Pints, showing a three-pointed symbol below that indicates a production date of 1912.

Measuring 12in x 7 3/4in and weighing 36 1/2oz, it is sold with original ebonised base.

“This is without doubt one of the most iconic objects relating to the Titanic disaster and carries a truly impeccable provenance,” auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said.

“It has remained in the Rostron family since its presentation on May 29 1912 and has been exhibited in the National Museums Liverpool, Ulster Folk and Transport Museum and the world’s largest Titanic museums in Branson and Pigeon Forge in the USA.

“We have estimated it at £40,000 to £60,000.”