Historic Titanic dinner menu fetches £83,000 at auction in England. In a captivating auction on Saturday evening in England, the first-class dinner menu from the ill-fated Titanic was sold for an impressive £83,000 (approximately ₹84.5 lakh).
The auction, managed by Henry Aldridge & Son of Wiltshire, showcased a piece of history that provides a unique insight into the final culinary offerings for first-class passengers aboard the RMS Titanic, just three days before its tragic encounter with an iceberg on April 14, 1912.
The surviving menu, featuring distinctive water stains and adorned with the White Star logo, meticulously lists the gastronomic delights served on April 11, a day after the Titanic set sail from Queenstown, Ireland, bound for New York.
Among the delicacies featured is the intriguing Victoria pudding, a boiled dessert served with apricots and French ice cream, comprised of a blend of flour, eggs, jam, brandy, apples, cherries, peel, sugar, and spices.
This historical artifact, discovered in a 1960s photo album belonging to Len Stephenson, a community historian in Dominion, Nova Scotia, is believed to be one of the few surviving first-class menus from that fateful evening.
Andrew Aldridge, the auction house manager, expressed the rarity of such finds, stating, “I’ve spoken to several museums globally, and I’ve spoken to a number of our Titanic collectors. I can’t find another one anywhere.”
The auction also featured other Titanic artifacts, including a tartan deck blanket, but the spotlight remained on the exceptional first-class menu.
Harry Bennett, an associate professor of maritime history at the University of Plymouth, voiced concerns about the ethical considerations surrounding such auctions.
He emphasized the preference for placing these historical items in museums, where they can be curated within a context that removes profit-driven motives.
The debate over the fate of Titanic artifacts continues, with items falling into various categories based on their origin – whether recovered from the wreck, owned by survivors, or, like the luxurious dinner menu from April 11, likely taken as keepsakes from the ship.
As these relics become coveted pieces of history, the balance between preserving the past and ethical stewardship remains a key consideration in their auction and display.
