R.M.S. TITANIC: John Jacob Astor/William Dobbyn Archive: Jo...

Hammer

£900,000

R.M.S. TITANIC: John Jacob Astor/William Dobbyn Archive:

John Jacob Astor IV (July 13, 1864 – April 15, 1912) was an American business magnate, real estate developer, investor, writer, Lieutenant Colonel in the Spanish–American War, and a prominent member of the Astor family. He died in the sinking of the Titanic during the early hours of April 15, 1912. Astor is well known as the richest passenger aboard the R.M.S. Titanic and was thought to be among the richest people in the world at that time, with a net worth of roughly $87 million (equivalent to several billion dollars today). His business interests, which were mostly real estate, included the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. At the age of 47, Astor married 18–year–old Madeleine Talmadge Force on September 11, 1911 in his mother's ballroom at Beechwood, the family's Newport, Rhode Island home. He had been divorced two years earlier, and Madeleine was a year younger than Astor's son, Vincent. The couple took an extended honeymoon in Europe and Egypt to wait for the scandalous gossip to calm down. Among the few Americans of the socialite class who did not spurn him at this time was Margaret Brown, better known to posterity as "The Unsinkable Molly Brown". She accompanied the Astors to Egypt and France and, by coincidence, was called home to the U.S. at the same time the Astors also found it necessary to curtail their touring.

At 11:40 P.M. on April 14, 1912 the Titanic hit an iceberg and started to take on water. At first, Astor did not believe the ship was in any serious danger but later it was apparent she was sinking and the captain had started an evacuation after midnight, so he helped his wife into lifeboat 4. He asked if he could join his wife, mentioning her "delicate condition", but the officer in charge told him not until all the women and children were away. Astor reportedly stood back and asked for the lifeboat number, then after lighting a cigarette he tossed his gloves to Madeleine. Gracie and Second Officer Lightoller, who lowered the boat, both wondered why Astor asked for the lifeboat number. Gracie thought he only wanted to find his wife, but Lightoller thought he was going to sue the company later.

Astor then went to smoke his cigarette with author Jacques Futrelle. Both Madeleine and Mrs. Brown survived. Futrelle and Astor did not.

John Jacob Astor IV's body was recovered by the steamer CS MacKay-Bennett on April 22, not far from the sinking. Reports said his body was badly crushed and covered in soot but all who examined his body maintained that it was in perfect condition with no bruising. He was identified by the initials sewn on the lapel of his jacket.

124 - MALE - ESTIMATED AGE 50 - LIGHT HAIR & MOUSTACHE CLOTHING - Blue serge suit; blue handkerchief with "A.V."; belt with gold buckle; brown boots with red rubber soles; brown flannel shirt; "J.J.A." on back of collar.

EFFECTS - Gold watch; cuff links, gold with diamond; diamond ring with three stones; £225 in English notes; $2440 in notes; £5 in gold; 7s. in silver; 5 ten franc pieces; gold pencil; pocketbook.

FIRST CLASS NAME- J.J. ASTOR.

William Dobbyn was Colonel Astor’s Executive secretary and one of his closest confidantes. While Astor was expanding his fortune in real estate and dining with presidents, Dobbyn took care of the administrative aspects of the millionaire's life and was known to have advised him on many matters both personal and business. He travelled to Europe while Madeleine and J.J. Astor were on honeymoon but did not return on Titanic with the couple. The Washington Times of 27^th April 1912 is quoted as saying “William Dobbyn, Colonel Astor’s personal secretary received the news for the Astor family, Mr Dobbyn said Captain Richard Roberts of Colonel Astor’s Steam Yacht Noma is now in Halifax and would claim the body”. Dobbyn stayed with the Astor Family as Vincent Astor’s secretary continuing the close bond he had with his father and worked for Astor's son for an additional 13 years after J.J’s death resigning in 1924. During an esteemed career, he also served Levi P. Morton the 22nd Vice President of the United States.

The New York Times Obituary after Mr Dobbyn’s death published on Sunday August 6^th 1939 stated that Vincent Astor visited him only three weeks before his death, again emphasising their close bond.

14kt 17 jewel Waltham pocket watch engraved on case JJA. A signed affidavit accompanies the watch from William Dobbyn IV’s daughter-in-law stating that the watch was a gift to William Dobbyn’s son (William Dobbyn V) from Vincent Astor when he stood as his Godfather at his Christening in 1935. The affidavit states that Vincent informed him the watch was carried by his father when he perished in the sinking of the Titanic on April 15^th 1912 and recovered with his body. The watch itself was completely restored after being returned to Colonel Astor’s family and worn by his son making it a unique part of the Titanic story and one of the most important pieces of horological history relating to the most famous ship in the world. The lot also includes a copy of William Dobbyn V’s Baptismal certificate dated June 3^rd 1935 showing Vincent Astor as a sponsor, a copy of a letter from Madelaine Astor to William Dobbyn relating to her late husband, a copy of a photograph of Vincent Astor with personal inscription of William Dobbyn IV, original 19^th Century portrait miniatures of William Dobbyn I and his wife and an appraisal from Ken Schultz, who was regarded as one the world’s leading Titanic authorities prior to his death in 2006. The watch is shown in a full-page illustration in the most definitive book relating to Titanic memorabilia Titanic Fortune and Fate Simon and Schuster 1998 and has been on display at the following exhibitions and museums: Mariners Museum, New York: Fortune and Fate (1998), Blackhawk Museum (Danville Calif.): Titanic (2001), Ronald Reagan Presidential Library: “Titanic at the Reagan Library" (2017), National Geographic Exhibition, Washington DC: 'Titanic The Untold Story' (2018) and Titanic Museum ‘The World’s Largest Titanic Attraction’ (2022-23) a truly unique piece of history.