"A gold pocket watch that belonged to a man who died onboard the Titanic when it sank has sold for a record sum. The watch, which belonged to 67-year-old Isidor Straus, went for 1.78m at auction, the highest amount ever paid for Titanic memorabilia. He was given the watch an engraved 18-carat Jules Jurgensen as a gift on his 43rd birthday in 1888."
"Straus was born into a Jewish family in Otterberg, Bavaria, in 1845 and emigrated to the US with his family in 1854. It was there that Straus made his name, becoming a partner in the New York department store Macy's. Straus and his wife, Ida, were two of the more than 1,500 passengers who lost their lives when the Titanic sank in 1912, and two of the only first-class passengers who died in the tragedy."
"Straus's watch was later recovered from the wreckage and returned to the Straus family. A letter written by Ida Straus on Titanic stationery and posted while onboard the ship. Photograph: Henry Aldridge and Son Ltd/PA It was one of several Titanic-related items sold by Henry Aldridge & Son auctioneers in Devizes, Wiltshire, this weekend. Other items that went under the hammer included a letter written by Ida Straus on Titanic stationery, which went for 100,000; a Titanic passenger list, which was bought for 104,000;"
A gold, engraved 18-carat Jules Jurgensen pocket watch owned by Isidor Straus sold for 1.78m, the highest price recorded for Titanic memorabilia. Isidor Straus, born in Otterberg, Bavaria in 1845, emigrated to the United States in 1854 and became a partner in Macy's. Straus and his wife Ida were among the more than 1,500 people who died when the Titanic sank in 1912; the couple reportedly declined separate lifeboat seats and were last seen together on deck. The watch was recovered from the wreckage and returned to the family. The auction in Devizes by Henry Aldridge & Son also sold other Titanic items, including an Ida Straus letter for 100,000 and a passenger list for 104,000.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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