A symbol of luxury and doom, the terrible narrative of the Titanic lives on in the enigma of maritime history. A first-class dinner menu dated April 11, 1912, which is discolored with water, has recently come up for auction. It is an artifact that spans time. In addition to revealing the lavish fare consumed just days before the catastrophe, this culinary artifact, found among the luggage of Titanic fatality Len Stephenson, opens a previously unrecorded chapter in the ship’s extensive history.
The Unveiled Dinner Discovery:
This historical menu was inadvertently kept by renowned Nova Scotian historian Len Stephenson until his death in 2017. His daughter Mary Anita failed to discover this hidden gem in a vintage photograph album until she recently went through his stored possessions. The existence of the menu was undiscovered until it came to light, adding an unexpected level of mystery to the fascinating story of the Titanic.
Setting Out on a Gastronomic Adventure of Titanic:
The first-class dinner menu entices us to go on a gourmet voyage through time, providing a mouthwatering look into the opulent fare served when the Titanic sailed from Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland. Squab a la Godard, spring lamb, mallard duck, tournedo of beef a la Victoria, oysters, and apricots Bourdaloue were among the delectable dishes prepared for the affluent patrons, who included notable figures such as JJ Astor, Benjamin Guggenheim, Sir Cosmo Duff-Gordon, and the ‘Unsinkable’ Molly Brown.
Deciphering the Enigma:
Len Stephenson took the mystery of how he obtained the menu with him to his grave, according to auctioneer Andrew Aldridge, who revealed the intriguing story of its provenance. An enticing element to the tale is Len’s link to Nova Scotia, which is entwined with the history of the Titanic through corpse recovery ships. Perhaps accompanied by a survivor or found with one of the fallen lives, the water-stained menu, scarred by the frigid North Atlantic seas, bears witness to the sad morning of April 15.
Auction Extravaganza:
On November 11, this highly sought-after Titanic memorabilia went up for auction at Henry Aldridge & Son in Devizes, Wiltshire. The menu is estimated to be worth between £50,000 and £70,000, and it is a rare example of the culinary extravagance that characterized the ship’s last moments of normalcy.
Maintaining Chronology in Relics:
Other moving relics that preserved the memory of the Titanic’s terrible demise were displayed beside the menu. A heartbreaking remembrance of the moment the ship met its death is provided by a pocket watch that belonged to second-class passenger Sinai Kantor and was frozen at approximately 2:25 a.m.
Blanket’s Unspoken Story:
An embroidered blanket with a tartan design and the White Star Line insignia sticks out among the goods up for sale. Probably used to console survivors arriving in New York after their journey from the Carpathia, the blanket was acquired by White Star manager Frederick Toppin.
Public Enthusiasm for Echo on the Titanic:
The enduring fascination with Titanic artifacts, evident in the high prices they command at auctions, reflects the sustained public interest in the ship’s history. Michael Findlay, former president of the Titanic International Society, notes that each piece tells a unique story, contributing to our understanding of the Titanic’s life and legacy.
Artifacts such as the first-class dinner program offer a tangible link to the past while the world continues to remain enthralled with the narrative of the Titanic. The history of the menu is rendered more mysterious by Len Stephenson’s unanticipated legacy, and its sale becomes a significant event where fans have the opportunity to buy a piece of the Titanic’s gastronomic past. The Titanic, preserved in memory and time, reminds us of the human stories that took place on that dreadful night more than a century ago and continues to provide an insightful look into a bygone period.
