Rare Titanic artefact with a "hint of scandal" up for auction
<p>An extremely rare gold cigarette case from the Titanic disaster is up for auction. The case, that once belonged to a controversial wealthy couple, comes complete with a backstory and belonged to Sir Cosmo and Lady Duff-Gordon.</p>
<p>According to Hansons Auctioneers, the Duff-Gordons were accused of bribing their way off the now lost ship, but the allegation has never been proven.</p>
<p>The infamous ship hit an iceberg at 11.40 pm ship’s time on April 14, 1912, and took two hours to completely submerge in the water killing over 1500 passengers.</p>
<p>“This cigarette case in its own right is a wonderful object, but its provenance sends its importance soaring to titanic heights,” said Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, in a <em><a href="https://hansonsauctioneers.co.uk/blog/2018/08/why-this-gold-cigarette-cases-titanic-story-could-make-giant-waves" target="_blank">statement</a></em>. “The sinking of the Titanic has fascinated the world for more than 100 years and such was the Duff-Gordons’ impact on events their roles are played in 1997 movie ‘Titanic’.”</p>
<p>Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon was a highly respected landowner and accomplished fencer. His wife, a fashion designer, managed to escape the ship with her secretary and husband on Titanic’s Lifeboat Number 1, making them amongst the 12 survivors. The lifeboat, otherwise known as the “millionaires’ boat” by the British press, had a capacity of 40 people. Other passengers on board Lifeboat Number 1 were two other passengers with the remainder being crew members.</p>
<p>“As the Titanic sank, it was claimed Lucy Duff-Gordon said to her secretary, ‘There is your beautiful nightdress gone’,” Hanson said. “A fireman, allegedly annoyed by her comment, replied that while the couple could replace their property, he and the other crew members had lost everything. Sir Cosmo then offered each of the men £5 (equivalent to about NZD$850 today) to aid them.”</p>
<p>According to <em><a href="https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/" target="_blank">Encyclopedia Titanica</a></em>, the landowner presented them each with their money once they reached safety, a decision that while seemingly generous, would cost Sir Cosmo his dignity.</p>
<p>“In the aftermath of the tragedy, the couple were accused of buying their way off the boat, a story inflamed by the tabloid press. But at the British Board of Trade inquiry into the disaster, where the couple testified, Sir Cosmo was adamant he’d given the money as a gesture of goodwill to help the men. However, mud sticks and they were tainted by the incident for the rest of their lives,” Hanson said.</p>
<p>On board the Carpathia, the ship’s purser Ernest Brown was responsible for helping the Duff-Gordons and was later awarded a medal for his role in the Titanic rescue operation.</p>
<p><img width="498" height="245" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820049/titanic-nz_498x245.jpg" alt="Titanic -nz (1)"/></p>
<p>Because of this, the Duff-Gordons rewarded Brown by gifting him the Asprey gold cigarette case. The case is engraved with the message: “Ernest G F Brown RNR, in remembrance of kindness. SS Carpathia. From Sir Cosmo and Lady Duff Gordon.” On the front of the case, the initials “EB” are featured.</p>
<p>The cigarette case, which will be up for auction on September 28 at Hanson’s, has a pre-sale estimate of $77,000 to $110,000.</p>
<p>Previously, the sextant used by Carpathia’s captain sold for a little under US$97,000. Also, three photos and a handwritten note discussing the last lifeboat were sold for US$6,800.</p>
