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Titanic Rescue Loving Cup Awarded to Carpathia's Captain Rostron by the 'Unsinkable' Molly Brown

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Autographs Start Price:NA Estimated At:200,000.00 - 250,000.00 USD
Titanic Rescue Loving Cup Awarded to Carpathia's Captain Rostron by the 'Unsinkable' Molly Brown

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Auction Date:2014 Apr 24 @ 18:00 (UTC-05:00 : EST/CDT)
Location:236 Commercial St., Suite 100, Boston, Massachusetts, 02109, United States
ALS - Autograph Letter Signed
ANS - Autograph Note Signed
AQS - Autograph Quotation Signed
AMQS - Autograph Musical Quotation Signed
DS - Document Signed
FDC - First Day Cover
Inscribed - “Personalized”
ISP - Inscribed Signed Photograph
LS - Letter Signed
SP - Signed Photograph
TLS - Typed Letter Signed
Original sterling silver Loving Cup presented to Captain Arthur Rostron of the Carpathia by Titanic survivor Margaret Brown—later famously known as Molly Brown—in a ceremony on May 29, 1912. Dedication text engraved on the front of the cup reads: "Presented to Captain A. H. Rostron RD, RNR, Commander of the RMS Carpathia. In grateful recognition and appreciation of his heroic and efficient service in the rescue of the survivors of the Titanic on April 15th 1912, and of the generous and sympathetic treatment he accorded us on his ship. From the Survivors of the Titanic." Cup measures 12.25? tall and 7.75? in diameter, with handles extending 2.5? from either side and a 5.25? diameter base; weight is 2.6 pounds. Whiting Manufacturing Company proof mark is impressed inside the base, with text that reads, "Sterling, 1387, 8 Pints," below which is a three-pointed symbol that indicates a production date of 1912. Accompanied by the original ebony wooden base. In fine condition, with some scattered dings and tarnishing.

Brown, an American socialite, boarded the Titanic as a first class passenger at Cherbourg, France—the vessel's first stop after leaving Southampton. Five days later, when the mammoth ship struck the iceberg, she unselfishly leapt into action and loaded others into the lifeboats, willing to face the chilling danger of the deep to save as many people as possible. She was eventually put into lifeboat six, where she helped to keep spirits up as they awaited an unknown fate. By this time, the Carpathia had received a distress signal cast out by Titanic telegraph operator Jack Phillips, and Captain Rostron immediately set his course in the direction of the wreck, posting extra lookouts to help navigate through the ice floes and ordering his engineers to maintain the highest speed possible—revving her up to 17.5 knots, 3.5 faster than the rated top speed. As his ship traversed the dangerous waters, Captain Rostron had the foresight to prepare for the scene ahead. Such measures included lowering the Carpathia's lifeboats, preparing medical stations, and arranging for blankets and hot drinks to be ready for the survivors. Ultimately, Captain Rostron and his crew successfully rescued over 700 of the Titanic's passengers.

Once aboard the Carpathia, Margaret Brown continued to assist her fellow passengers, nursing their wounds and comforting them with optimism—her fluency in English, French, German, and Russian enabled her to communicate with nearly all on board. Once everyone was stable, her philanthropic side kicked in and she established a committee to raise money for destitute survivors, collecting $10,000 from well-to-do passengers before the Carpathia even reached New York. Then, as a member of this 'Survivor's Committee,' she arranged for a ceremony to recognize the heroic Carpathia crew, where she presented every crew member with a crimson-ribboned medal and Captain Rostron with the Loving Cup. This historic cup has remained in the Rostron family ever since that day—May 29, 1912—and has been on loan to the Merseyside Maritime Museum and Ulster Folk and Transport Museum since the 1980s.