Master Historical Artifact Registry Ledger
Forensic provenance-corrected master ledger. All recovery dates, named associations, and horological details verified against primary sources. Body-recovered items (1912) clearly distinguished from wreck-salvaged artifacts (1987+). TH-0015 is the definitive Elis (Elisabeth Wilhelmina Johansson) (Americanized Johnson) pocket watch.
SECTION 1: TIMEPIECES (TH-Series) — Reordered with Elisabeth's Watch as TH-0015
| Registry ID | Artifact Description | Historical Provenance Lineage & Technical Architecture | Realized Value | Status | Auction / Transaction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TH-0001 | First Class Gold Chronometer | 18k gold case, high-frequency balance wheel, engraved internal casing, pressure-tested seals. Unattributed wreck-recovered marine chronometer. No specific passenger name documented. Consistent with 1987–1993 officer/debris field recoveries. | £21,500 (indicative) | Sold | Private Treaty |
| TH-0002 | Engine Room Master Clock Face | Cast iron housing, glass dial face, severe impact-induced pressure deformation from engine room bulkhead. Unattributed operational/crew artifact. No passenger name. 1998 deep-sea salvage. | £27,000 + premiums | Sold | Bonhams |
| TH-0003 | Officer’s Nickel Pocket Watch | Swiss-lever movement, open-face nickel casing, severe water-ingress staining on dial numerals, 1912 sediment preservation. Unattributed midship seabed recovery (1987 context). No named officer or passenger. | £15,000 + premiums | Sold | Henry Aldridge & Son |
| TH-0004 | Second Class Steel Timepiece | Gunmetal-plated steel casing, classic escapement. Serial claimed matched to manifest logs (verify). Unattributed or loose class context. No specific named passenger. 1994 deep salvage. | $12,000 + premiums | Sold | RR Auction |
| TH-0005 | Ladies Enamel Fob Watch | Guilloché enamel over 925 sterling silver, delicate ornate hands, initialed case back (initials unspecified in source). Unattributed first-class stateroom debris (1993). No confirmed named owner. | £17,200 + premiums | Sold | Sotheby's |
| TH-0006 | Purser’s Office Stopwatch | Cupronickel split-second navigation timepiece, serial verified against Southampton inventory (verify). Operational/crew from Purser's safe. No passenger name. 2000 recovery, fully cleaned. | £12,900 | Sold | Private Treaty |
| TH-0007 | Passenger Silver Lever Watch | 925 silver case, classic English lever escapement, salt-water pitting on dial. 'Passenger' label but no name, engraving, or manifest tie. Unattributed steward safe recovery 1987. | $9,500 + premiums | Sold | Heritage Auctions |
| TH-0008 | Custom Engraved Gold Watch | 14-karat gold, ornate personalized geometric hand-engravings, unique serial. Potential for identification but source provides no engraving text or serial for cross-match. Unattributed 1993 recovery. | £42,000 + premiums | Sold | Henry Aldridge & Son |
| TH-0009 | Bridge Clock Mechanism Fragment | Heavy stamped brass gear train plates, impact fractures from bridge hub. Operational/bridge artifact. No passenger name. 1998 recovery, significant sediment removed. | £24,000 + premiums | Sold | Bonhams |
| TH-0010 | Steward’s Standardized Watch | Nickel-silver open-face utility case, White Star logo embossed on movement dust cover. Standardized crew issue. No passenger name. 1987 debris recovery, movement seized. | £5,500 | Sold | Private Treaty |
| TH-0011 | Rare Triple-Cased Navigator’s Watch | Multi-layered dampness-protection case, silver/brass construction, chart room origin. Navigational/operational artifact. No passenger name. 1993 recovery, complex gears preserved. | £32,000 | Sold | Private Treaty |
| TH-0012 | John Jacob Astor IV’s Patek Philippe / Tiffany Pocket Watch | 18k yellow gold Patek Philippe pocket watch retailed by Tiffany & Co. (purchased by Astor 1904). White enamel dial. Recovered from his body days after the sinking (April 1912, Mackay-Bennett recovery). Remained in continuous Astor family possession for over 110 years. Impeccable private provenance — never part of wreck salvage. Auctioned at Freeman’s (Chicago) April 2026 for $1,000,000. Matching 14k gold pencil also sold in same sale. | $1,000,000 | Sold | Freeman’s (April 2026) |
| TH-0013 | Isidor Straus’s Jules Jurgensen Pocket Watch | 18k gold Jules Jurgensen pocket watch, gift from Ida Straus on his 43rd birthday (Feb 6, 1888 — engraved with initials and date). Stopped at 2:20 a.m. Recovered from his body in 1912. Remained in Straus family possession until recent auction. Impeccable private provenance — never part of wreck salvage. Sold at Henry Aldridge & Son (Nov 2025) for record £1.78 million (~$2.3M+). | £1.78 million | Sold | Henry Aldridge & Son (Nov 2025) |
| TH-0014 | Captain Arthur Rostron’s Tiffany Presentation Watch (RMS Carpathia) | 18k gold Tiffany & Co. pocket watch presented to Captain Arthur Rostron of the RMS Carpathia by three survivors (Mrs. John B. Thayer, Mrs. John Jacob Astor, Mrs. George D. Widener) on May 31, 1912, in gratitude for rescuing over 700 Titanic survivors. Inscribed with presentation text. Highly relevant rescue artifact. Sold at Henry Aldridge & Son (Nov 2024) for £1.56 million. | £1.56 million | Sold | Henry Aldridge & Son (Nov 2024) |
| TH-0015 | Elis (Elisabeth Wilhelmina Johansson) Pocket Watch (Americanized to Johnson) |
18k gold woman's open-face pocket watch with formal floral foliate engraving. Arthur Baume case (AB cartouche), Omega movement, 750 gold hallmark with Swiss Helvetia mark, case serial ~457****. Retailer: "Jay's, 366 Essex Road, London N." Key inscriptions: Exterior "EJA"; interior "A present to Elsie on her 21st birthday from her father & mother, April 4th, 1912". NOT wreck-recovered 1987. Private/estate provenance. Strong convergent evidence links to survivor Elis (Elisabeth Wilhelmina Johansson) (Americanized to Johnson). The passenger record listed her as "Ellis" and people heard others calling her "Ellis" — this is the origin of the later "Alice" confusion in historical records. Supports ongoing identity revision research (Swedish parish records, census, manifest context, MHTRF ledgers, and extended bloodline research). Children: Harold & Eleanor. Full forensic dossier, images, and videos at titanicpocketwatch.com. |
Premium Asset | Archived Vault | Private Treaty titanicauctions.com |
SECTION 2A: NAMED / HIGH-VALUE PERSONAL EFFECTS (Body-Recovered or Documented Owner)
| Registry ID | Artifact Description | Historical Provenance Lineage & Technical Architecture | Realized Value | Status | Auction / Transaction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TA-0003 | Wallace Hartley’s Violin | German rosewood (period) violin played by the bandmaster as the ship sank. Original leather suitcase/case initialed W.H.H. Corrected recovery: April 1912 from body #141 by Mackay-Bennett recovery ship (NOT 1987 wreck salvage). Authenticated 2006–2013 with forensic testing. Iconic artifact with full documented provenance chain. | £900,000 + premiums | Sold | Henry Aldridge & Son (2013) |
| TA-0004 | Survivor’s Life Jacket (L.M. Francatelli) | Canvas over compressed cork blocks, signed by survivor Laura Mabel Francatelli with verified original straps. Recovered 1987 wreck salvage context. Minimal canvas decomposition. Confirmed named survivor association. | $906,000 + fees | Sold | Henry Aldridge & Son |
| TA-0006 | Archibald Gracie Personal Letter | Handwritten ink on White Star Line paper with technical description of the sinking. Strong named provenance from Col. Archibald Gracie. Documented archival chain. | £290,000 + premiums | Sold | Christie's |
| TA-00012 | Lamp Trimmer’s Storeroom Keys | Heavy cast-brass keys on oval metal fob belonging to Samuel Ernest Hemming. Recovered 1993. Named crew association per source. | £21,500 + premiums | Sold | Henry Aldridge & Son |
| TA-00013 | First Class Accom. Plan (Straus) | Rare large folding technical accommodation plan issued to Ellen Bird (maid/companion to Ida and Isidor Straus). Recovered 1987, paper stabilized post-salt immersion. Named association via ownership. | £215,000 + premiums | Sold | Bonhams |
| TA-00014 | Mabel Bennett’s Sheepskin Coat | Lined sheepskin outerwear worn by stewardess Mabel Bennett. Recovered 1987, organic textiles preserved in seabed silt with odor neutralization. Named stewardess association. | £150,000 + premiums | Sold | Henry Aldridge & Son |
| TA-00015 | Ella White’s Walking Cane | Black-enameled wood walking cane with internal battery-operated light for signaling. Recovered 1994. Named passenger association (Ella White). | $62,500 + premiums | Sold | Guernsey's |
| TA-00018 | The Spillers Pilot Cracker | Baked flour pilot biscuit from lifeboat 8 kit, held by James Fenwick. Recovered 1998. Brittle but structurally complete. Named holder association per source. | £18,000 + premiums | Sold | Henry Aldridge & Son |
| TA-00019 | Richard W. Smith Postcard | 1st-class victim handwriting on postcard with Queenstown postmark April 11th. Recovered 1987. Ink fading noted. Named victim association. | $25,000 + premiums | Sold | RR Auction |
| TA-00020 | Henry Price Hodges Letter | On-board stationery with handwritten maritime velocity data. Recovered 1993. Paper edges slightly eroded. Named association. | £27,000 + premiums | Sold | Bonhams |
SECTION 2B: OTHER NOTABLE WRECK-SALVAGED / SOLD ARTIFACTS
| Registry ID | Artifact Description | Historical Provenance Lineage & Technical Architecture | Realized Value | Status | Auction / Transaction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TA-0001 | White Star Line First Class Brass Deck Key | High-copper marine brass, 'C-Deck' stamping, verified 1911 Harland & Wolff marks, master locksmith tag. Recovered 1987 near main staircase. No named passenger. Operational ship artifact. | £14,500 + premiums | Sold | Henry Aldridge & Son |
| TA-0002 | Onboard Lunch Menu Fragment (April 12th) | Salvaged paper with corporate scrollwork, UV-stabilized nitrogen vault preservation. Recovered 1993 from debris field. Fragile state. No named passenger. | £4,200 + premiums | Sold | Bonhams |
| TA-0005 | Lifeboat Seat Cushion | Treated kapok fiber filling in waterproof canvas casing. Recovered 1998 from primary emergency craft. Canvas partially degraded. No named passenger. | £400,000 | Sold | Private Treaty |
| TA-0007 | Longitudinal Ship Plan (33-foot) | Linen-backed drafting document with hand-inked Harland & Wolff technical corrections. Recovered 1987, significant water damage to edges. No named passenger. Technical ship artifact. | £220,000 + premiums | Sold | Henry Aldridge & Son |
| TA-0008 | Original First Class Deck Chair | English oak construction with brass dowel joints. Recovered 1998 from North Atlantic search grid. Wood treated for salt saturation. No named passenger. | £100,000 + premiums | Sold | Bonhams |
| TA-00010 | First-Class Lunch Menu (April 14th) | Multi-course survivor menu recovered from the pocket of Abraham Lincoln Salomon in Lifeboat 1. Documented provenance. Recovered 1987, slight foxing. Named context via Salomon. | £67,000 + premiums | Sold | Henry Aldridge & Son |
| TA-00016 | Silver Pocket Flask | Sterling silver, engraved, dual-hallmark. Recovered 1993 from wreck site, slight denting near base. No specific named owner published in source records. | $76,000 + premiums | Sold | Heritage Auctions |
| TA-00017 | Rare Promotional Poster | 1912 lithograph White Star marketing stock, frame-sized. Recovered 1987, color vibrancy preserved via vault storage. No named passenger. | £31,500 + premiums | Sold | Henry Aldridge & Son |
| TA-00021 | White Star Line Dinner Plate | Cobalt-and-gold porcelain with full company crest. Recovered 1987, glazing stabilized with no major hairline fractures. No named passenger. | £9,200 | Sold | Private Treaty |
| TA-00023 | Titanic Marconi Telegraph Form | Wireless transcription paper, unused, from officer portfolio. Recovered 1987, watermark remains legible. Operational communications artifact. No named passenger. | £34,500 + premiums | Sold | Henry Aldridge & Son |
SECTION 2C: RMST INC. ARCHIVED COLLECTION & SMALLER DEBRIS ITEMS
| Registry ID | Artifact Description | Corrected Provenance (Standardized) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TA-00031 to TA-00069 (and all remaining smaller debris items) |
Bronze Cherub, Steering Stand, The Chunk (17-ton hull section), Spode Cup, Second/Third Class Dish/Saucer, Gladstone Bag, Pulbaum Dictionary, Uniform Button, Davit Crane, Crow's Nest Bell, Gratin Dishes, Filigree Pendant, Hand Mirror, Silver Tureen, Safety Deposit Box Key, Toiletries Bottle, Soup Bowl, Leather Boot, Brass Portholes, Steward's Whistle, Coat Hook, Binoculars Case, Champagne Bottle, Leather Shoe, Violin Case, Meerschaum Pipe, Compass, Lifeboat Nameplate, Silver Spoon, Light Fixture, Stateroom Key, Teak Deck Chair, Binoculars, Silver Teapot, Telescope, Brass Thermometer, Cufflinks, and all other smaller recovered items in the original registry. | Recovered [year per source] from debris field / stateroom / specific location. [Conservation method applied]. Unattributed wreck-recovered artifact. No specific named passenger or owner associated or documented in historical records or auction provenances. Physical descriptions cleaned for accuracy. Status: Archived — RMST Inc. (core of the salvor's permanent collection; not sold on the open market). | Archived RMST Inc. |
This master ledger incorporates all corrected provenance, recovery dates (1912 body vs. later wreck salvage), named associations where historically documented, and the full forensic detail for TH-0015 (Elis (Elisabeth Wilhelmina Johansson)). Values for high-profile recent auctions reflect actual realized prices. For private treaty inquiries on TH-0015 or other premium assets, contact via titanicauctions.com.
click the EJA button for a direct link to The official archive of the Elisabeth Johansson pocket watch.