The affidavit signed by Laura Francatelli, who got away in a lifeboat, easily topped its pre-sale estimate of 15,000 pounds (USD 24,000). It was bought by an anonymous collector from eastern Europe. The most expensive item in Saturday's sale was a poster of the Titanic, which went for 60,000 pounds (USD 96,000) to an anonymous US collector. Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge of Henry Aldridge & Son says it is the highest price ever paid for a poster of the doomed ship.
In Francatelli's affidavit, she spoke of hearing an "awful rumbling" as the Titanic sunk in the icy North Atlantic.
Published 17 October 2010, 02:39 IST