Life jacket worn by a passenger who survived the Titanic auctioned off for over $900,000

NPR reports that a life jacket worn by first-class passenger Laura Mabel Francatelli during the Titanic's sinking sold at auction for £670,000 (approximately $906,000), making it a rare artifact signed by Francatelli and other survivors. The article is sourced from the Associated Press and reported by NPR, a major national outlet, lending strong credibility; the piece includes the sale price in both pounds and dollars, the auction house name (Henry Aldridge & Son), and identifies the survivor by name. Independent corroboration from NBC News, People, Global News, and WRAL confirms these core facts, with additional context that the sale occurred just days after the 114th anniversary of the disaster and that Francatelli was among roughly 700 survivors. Readers should note that pre-auction estimates ranged from £250,000–£350,000, meaning the final hammer price substantially exceeded expectations—a detail worth understanding for context on why this sale garnered attention.