A black and white photograph of the iceberg which experts believe sunk the Titanic starred last night (December 16) in a New Hampshire auction dedicated to the ship, selling for $21,000 - a 110% increase on its top-end valuation of $10,000.
Measuring 9.5 x 8 inches, the haunting image depicts an unusually elliptical "blueberg", which has been labelled, signed and dated by Captain WF Wood in black ink: "Copyright. Blueberg taken by Captain W F Wood. S S Etonian on 12/4/12." After noting the latitude and longitude, Wood concludes plainly: "Titanic struck 14/4/12 and sank in three hours."
 Sketches of the iceberg drawn aboard the Titanic bear an eerie resemblance to the photograph |
It is thought that Wood photographed the ill-fated iceberg because he was particularly intrigued by its curious shape, which is also one of the reasons why some experts have been keen to place their professional weight behind the iceberg's importance.
Titanic expert, Stanley Lehrer, said of the photograph: "In my professional opinion this iceberg is the one that sunk the Titanic."
George Rheims, a first class passenger aboard the Titanic, and Joseph Scarrot, one of two seamen on duty at the moment of collision, both made sketches of the iceberg which are uncannily similar in shape to the iceberg which features in Wood's photograph.
Other items related to the infamous ship also performed well, including one of only seven deckchairs in existence that are known to have graced the Titianic's deck, which sold comfortably within its pre-auction valuation of $50,000-$75,000 for $59,000.
The sale is further proof that the market for Titanic memorabilia remains strong in the 100th anniversary year of the sinking.
For more auction news, please sign up for our free weekly newsletter.
