Thomas Krom
Member
First class passenger Harry Elkins Widener (1885-1912) recently brought a second edition of Bacon's Essais from 1598. It went down with the ship.
First class passenger Pierre Maréchal (1883-1942) is known to have saved a Sherlock Holmes book from the ship in lifeboat number 7.
There was a real jewel-encrusted copy of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam on the Titanic. It had been crafted in 1911 by the firm of Sangorski & Sutcliffe in London. It was won at a Sotheby's auction in London on 29 March 1912 for 405 Pounds to Gabriel Weis (who was not on-board), who was an American, and was being shipped to New York.
Last edited:
Arun Vajpey
Member
That was a lot of money in those days.
Is there a record of how much Harry Widener had paid for the Bacon essays? Was it specially bound or something?
Some accounts claim that Harry Widener had the book/papers in his coat pocket when he went down with the ship.
Duck_Dur
Member
Was this saved?
robert warren
Member
The Rubaiyat went down, but was recreated twice-during the 30s, and again in the 90s I believe. The 2nd Rubaiyat was destroyed in the blitz . There is an interesting article on the saga of this book on this site. Does your question also mean to ask what kind of books were provided in the 1st and 2nd class lounge and library? Im guessing general topics, but would be interested to know myself if anyone else knows.
Duck_Dur
Member
Yes I would be interested to see what books they had on the ship itself for the first and second class library
Bibliophile
Member
The rare copy of the second edition of Bacon’s “Essaies” which Harry Widener acquired from the Henry Huth Sale of rare books cost him £260. His body and the book were never recovered. He also had with him a last minute purchase of a rare 1542 pamphlet “Heuy newes of an horryble erthquake in Scarbaria”. As Widener only collected pristine copies, it is likely that the condition and rarity of the books was reflected in their price. He also was said never to have travelled without a copy of his favourite book “Treasure Island”.
Arun Vajpey
Member
Thank you very much for that bit of information. I had always wondered about the cost. I think it would be about £25,000 in today's money but I might be way off.
Do you have information if it was an early edition? Treasure Island was originally published less than 30 years before the Titanic's maiden voyage and so I'm not certain how collectible it would have been by then.
Bibliophile
Member
Harry Widener collected early editions of the works of Robert Louis Stevenson and associated manuscripts. However, he was said by his cousin and friends to have had multiple copies of “Treasure Island” which suggests that if he had a copy of “Treasure Island” with him it was for reading rather than collecting.
Stevenson was already collectible by 1912. Widener collected nineteenth century literature and Stevenson was a favourite. He owned the manuscript of Stevenson’s “Memoirs of Myself” which he, Harry Widener, had published in a limited edition shortly before his death, which was given to friends and fellow book collectors.
Stevenson was already collectible by 1912. Widener collected nineteenth century literature and Stevenson was a favourite. He owned the manuscript of Stevenson’s “Memoirs of Myself” which he, Harry Widener, had published in a limited edition shortly before his death, which was given to friends and fellow book collectors.
Similar threads
