A humble biscuit that survived the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 became the most expensive nibble in the world Saturday when it was sold at an auction in England for 23,000 U.S. dollars.
The
square-shaped biscuit, made with just flour and water, and just 9 centimeters
by 10 centimeters in size, was stored in a survival kit aboard one of the
Titanic’s lifeboats.
Ahead
of the sale, with an estimate of up to 10,000 pounds (15,300 U.S. dollars),
auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said the Spillers and Bakers Pilot cracker biscuit,
found inside a lifeboat survival kit, was “the world’s most valuable biscuit”.
The
biscuit was recovered by James Fenwick who kept as a souvenir. And stored it in
a waterproof envelope used for storing camera film.
Fenwick
and his bride Mabel departed from New York on the ocean liner Carpathia on the
start of a three month honeymoon. The Carpathia was diverted to help in the
rescue operation after the Titanic sank.
The
Fenwick archive, being sold by descendants, is regarded as a unique collection
of photographs of the rescue operation, and included that single biscuit.
(The Titanic before it sank)
More than 700 people were rescued by the Carpathia, but a further 1,500
passengers and crew from the Titanic perished.
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