Gentleman, I must show you...

[God of Thunder]

I have always been an avid collector of rare items. I came across an auction and I had to have it. It isn't much to look at, I admit.....but the history behind it is incredible. Gentleman, I must show you......my piece of the Titanic Hull.



I won it in a private auction, and it came with all documentation that it is officially the HULL and not a Rusticle (the things growing on the Titanic). I even received documentation proving it came from the "big piece" that is on display in Las Vegas. It is honestly the most incredible piece I own, and certainly the most historic.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by God of Thunder

Well you keep checking.

Okay.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...auction_2.html

Illegal Salvage Not for Sale

The R.M.S. Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, after striking an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City. More than 1,500 people drowned with the ship, and the tragedy has reverberated through the years in the form of countless films and books.

National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Robert Ballard was the first to locate the resting place of the legendary vessel in 1985. Ballard found the ship off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland beneath 12,000 feet (3,657 meters) of water.

Ballard has long argued that shipwrecks should be left undisturbed to preserve history for future generations. (The explorer is currently revisiting the Titanic to document the wreck's destruction.)

But since Titanic's discovery, subsequent expeditions have salvaged over 6,000 artifacts from the wreck. Various tour companies have visited the site, and there have even been reports of private submarines landing on the sunken ship's deck.

Consigners and Guernsey's officials say salvaged items are off-limits from Thursday's auction.

"Salvaged artifacts … are not legal for collectors to own and certainly not legal to sell," Robinson said.

"We own things that were on the ship and taken off before the voyage, or taken off by survivors or even on victims' bodies," he said. "There are some personal effects that were taken off by morticians and embalmers in Halifax and put in numbered bags and sent back to families."

Collectors are said to have acquired many of their best pieces by locating families of the survivors and victims of the disaster.

Rich Romano, a Titanic artifact and memorabilia collector from Secaucus, New Jersey, is one of the auction's three main consigners. Romano said he began his collection by gathering the autographs of survivors and victims as a hobby. "I've been doing this, for Titanic and other liners, for about 18 years," Romano said, noting interest in Titanic has waxed and waned during that time.

"I've seen the quiet times, and obviously the movie brought everything back to the forefront," he said. "In the 1980s and 1990s a lot of the survivors jumped on the bandwagon and signed postcards at conventions and so on."

But interest in the luxury liner in recent years has pushed prices for memorabilia and artifacts steadily upward.

The family sources that have supplied the collectibles market once helped Edward S. Kamuda, president and founder of the Titanic Historical Society, create the society's museum in Indian Orchard, Massachusetts.

"Most of the stuff that we have in our collection was donated by survivors," Kamuda said. "It started when a survivor died and all of his things ended up in the city dump because he had no family and there was no interest in the 1960s. We thought we'd create a museum where [memorabilia] could be preserved for future generations."

But Kamuda said surging interest in the legendary liner has been a mixed blessing for his organization. Titanic buzz has promoted the society's growth. But it has also made it difficult for the museum to add its collection.

"People used to donate material to our society. But now that they can get a good price, you don't see that much any more," Kamuda said. "That's sad because some of these things will go into a collector's safe and not be seen publicly for years."

Kamuda believes that many auction buyers will be motivated less by interest in the events of April 1912 than those of April 2012.

"Many people are buying these things and looking to the hundredth anniversary … to make a profit," Kamuda said. "Some are speculators rather than Titanic enthusiasts."

Guernsey president Ettinger says that while more exciting items do carry large price tags, many enthusiasts who want a part of the Titanic story will be able to find something.

"It's really for all strata, it's not just an elitist thing," he said. "There are items that might be over a hundred thousand dollars, but many others that are only worth hundreds."

Romano, the New Jersey collector, says he believes the auction will help enhance the infamous ship's legacy. "It gives [enthusiasts] a chance to see or to own some of those items and to continue the Titanic's story. It really has no end."

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by hometeam

looks like an overcooked piece of steak~

In fact, after closer examination.. yep. Thats what it is.

Originally Posted by God of Thunder

Yes, it's very legal to own. You could have also purchased a menu that was recovered from a body. A first class menu that was dated April 12.....it was insane to see.

I bet the steak and the menu together are worth far more than each one individually.

I want to own a cool historic thing someday. I almost bought a 16th or 17th century suit of armor once, but it cost more ducats than I wanted to spend. I've also pondered buying some sort of ancient vase or amphora or something, but have never pulled the trigger. Maybe I should, though; I've been pondering some sort of alternative investment recently.

[God of Thunder]

Originally Posted by Donger

Okay.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...auction_2.html

Illegal Salvage Not for Sale

The R.M.S. Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, after striking an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City. More than 1,500 people drowned with the ship, and the tragedy has reverberated through the years in the form of countless films and books.

National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Robert Ballard was the first to locate the resting place of the legendary vessel in 1985. Ballard found the ship off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland beneath 12,000 feet (3,657 meters) of water.

Ballard has long argued that shipwrecks should be left undisturbed to preserve history for future generations. (The explorer is currently revisiting the Titanic to document the wreck's destruction.)

But since Titanic's discovery, subsequent expeditions have salvaged over 6,000 artifacts from the wreck. Various tour companies have visited the site, and there have even been reports of private submarines landing on the sunken ship's deck.

Consigners and Guernsey's officials say salvaged items are off-limits from Thursday's auction.

"Salvaged artifacts … are not legal for collectors to own and certainly not legal to sell," Robinson said.

"We own things that were on the ship and taken off before the voyage, or taken off by survivors or even on victims' bodies," he said. "There are some personal effects that were taken off by morticians and embalmers in Halifax and put in numbered bags and sent back to families."

Collectors are said to have acquired many of their best pieces by locating families of the survivors and victims of the disaster.

Rich Romano, a Titanic artifact and memorabilia collector from Secaucus, New Jersey, is one of the auction's three main consigners. Romano said he began his collection by gathering the autographs of survivors and victims as a hobby. "I've been doing this, for Titanic and other liners, for about 18 years," Romano said, noting interest in Titanic has waxed and waned during that time.

"I've seen the quiet times, and obviously the movie brought everything back to the forefront," he said. "In the 1980s and 1990s a lot of the survivors jumped on the bandwagon and signed postcards at conventions and so on."

But interest in the luxury liner in recent years has pushed prices for memorabilia and artifacts steadily upward.

The family sources that have supplied the collectibles market once helped Edward S. Kamuda, president and founder of the Titanic Historical Society, create the society's museum in Indian Orchard, Massachusetts.

"Most of the stuff that we have in our collection was donated by survivors," Kamuda said. "It started when a survivor died and all of his things ended up in the city dump because he had no family and there was no interest in the 1960s. We thought we'd create a museum where [memorabilia] could be preserved for future generations."

But Kamuda said surging interest in the legendary liner has been a mixed blessing for his organization. Titanic buzz has promoted the society's growth. But it has also made it difficult for the museum to add its collection.

"People used to donate material to our society. But now that they can get a good price, you don't see that much any more," Kamuda said. "That's sad because some of these things will go into a collector's safe and not be seen publicly for years."

Kamuda believes that many auction buyers will be motivated less by interest in the events of April 1912 than those of April 2012.

"Many people are buying these things and looking to the hundredth anniversary … to make a profit," Kamuda said. "Some are speculators rather than Titanic enthusiasts."

Guernsey president Ettinger says that while more exciting items do carry large price tags, many enthusiasts who want a part of the Titanic story will be able to find something.

"It's really for all strata, it's not just an elitist thing," he said. "There are items that might be over a hundred thousand dollars, but many others that are only worth hundreds."

Romano, the New Jersey collector, says he believes the auction will help enhance the infamous ship's legacy. "It gives [enthusiasts] a chance to see or to own some of those items and to continue the Titanic's story. It really has no end."

If you're going to link an article, at least link an official one.

http://www.gc.noaa.gov/gcil_titanic-salvage.html

With that said, I highly suggest you contact the two auction houses that had Titanic salvage this week.

[Donger]

Originally Posted by God of Thunder

If you're going to link an article, at least link an official one.

http://www.gc.noaa.gov/gcil_titanic-salvage.html

With that said, I highly suggest you contact the two auction houses that had Titanic salvage this week.

Yes, I've read it. Who salvaged the piece you own?

[loochy]

Originally Posted by Donger

Yes, I've read it. Who salvaged the piece you own?

some dude at the auto salvage yard

[God of Thunder]

Originally Posted by Donger

Yes, I've read it. Who salvaged the piece you own?

Originally Posted by loochy

some dude at the auto salvage yard

This guy.