Unauthenticated lifebelt fragments
Aside from the described lifebelts and parts of them, many small pieces and fragments have surfaced on the market over the years. There is no way to be sure about their authenticity without water-tight provenance. These fragments are added here for the completeness of the list.
Piece of cork saved by James Adams
James Adams was the Chief Officer aboard the Minia when the ship was sent out to recover Titanic’s bodies. Among other items Adams saved was a piece of cork from a lifebelt It was sold on an auction site from one private collector to another and measures 2 x 2 inches.
-Images from Ebay & Worthpoint.
Another piece of cork
This chunk, also said to be recovered by the Minia, was also sold from one private collector to another via the same auction site. The piece, seen here on the right, measures 2 inch x 2½ inch.
-Image from Ebay & Worthpoint.
Canvas and cork
Another piece of canvas and cork supposedly came from a Minia crewmember and was also sold from one private collector to another via an auction site in 2007. The canvas measures 5 inch x 7 inch and the cork measures 3 inch x 5 inch and is 3 inches thick. Interestingly, the thickness of the cork in Titanic's known lifebelts varies substantially, even in the same lifebelt, but only measure between about 1 3/4 and 2 1/4 inches thick.
-Image from Ebay & Worthpoint.
A piece of Canvas
This 5 inch x 2 ¼ inch piece of canvas was cut out of a damaged lifebelt which was taken during the body recovery by one of the cable ships. It is very brittle and shows signs of discoloration. It was also sold from one private collector to another via an auction site.
-Image from Ebay & Worthpoint.
A sliver of cork
On December 29th, 2012 a piece of cork from a lifebelt was being sold on ebay. Part of the listing read as follows:
"(...) The item up for bid is elaborately custom framed comprising of an authentic RMS Titanic White Star Liner lifevest piece. The piece was removed from the inside layer of the vest while having restoration done in 2008. The item was obtained from White Star Liner crew member Joseph Boxhall, March 3rd , 1916. Full documentation included."
This item is custom framed 24 x 18cm with a photo of RMS Titanic along with a custom attached piece from the White Star Liner lifevest Titanic. (...)
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