A TICKET stub from the VIP area of the launch of the Titanic has been sold at a Devizes auctioneers for £14,400.

The stub belonged to Harland & Wolff secretary Charlotte Irwin and was bought online by a British private collector at the Henry Aldridge & Son sale on Saturday, April 23.

Thousands came to watch the Titanic being launched at Harland & Wolf, Belfast on May 31, 1911 but Miss Irwin was able to watch the ceremony from an executive box designated for Harland & Wolff staff.

Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said: “It was a spectacular little lot really and it was wonderful to be able to put a face to the item.

“They are very, very rare but to be able to have a picture of the person as well was very unusual.”

The 20-year-old kept the ticket, No. 116, as a souvenir of the historic day.

The ticket reads “TITANIC launch” below which it states “To be retained for admission to Stand.” The stub is flanked with fleur-de-lys.

The reverse of the stub has Pitman notes, presumably added by Miss Irwin, which details of the disaster.

They read: “Launched 31st May 1911. Left Belfast 2nd April 1912. Sailed on her maiden voyage 10th April 1912. Struck an iceberg at 11.45 on 14th April 1912. Sank with the loss of over 1,000 lives at 2.20am 15th April 1912.”

Although the item exceeded its initial guide price of £6,000–£10,000, it was not the most expensive item of the auction, which lasted four hours.

Sir Arthur Rostron’s personal sextant that was used to set the course that resulted in the rescue and recovery of surviving passengers and crew sold for £66,000, an on-board letter for £63,000 and a letter recovered from Wallace Hartley’s body for £27,000.

Mr Aldridge added: “It only shows the profile this company has gained for the sale of such items. We have become a global business.”