4998    Lusitania                                                 Salvaged Spoon

May 7, 1915.  The great Cunard liner Lusitania is struck by a single torpedo off the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland.  She sinks in a mere 18 minutes with a loss of about 1,200 lives.

In 1982, a salvage firm conducted operations on the wreck to retrieve any items of value they could find.  Among the hundreds of artifacts recovered was this spoon.  On September 15, 1982, it was discovered in the Specie Room on Orlop Deck after the salvagers cut into the hull to recover valuables. 

Although more than twenty years have passed since the recovery of the artifacts, very few of the salvaged items have ever been offered for public sale.  Most are in museums or a few private collections around the world.  Here’s your chance to belong to that tiny number of ocean liner collectors who own an item that sank with the Lusitania that day.

These spoons were struck as a war premium (similar to war bonds of World War II), the proceeds from their sale going to aid the British war effort.  A portrait of Britain’s Lord Kitchener is on the handle, and despite its years on the sea floor, this spoon is in remarkable condition.  It measures 6” from handle to bowl.

Please note that only one (1) uncleaned spoon is being offered.  Among the additional photos is one that shows an identical spoon as it looked after it had been cleaned.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to own something that sank with the ship.  As far as can be determined, this is only the second time a spoon like this has been offered for public sale!  $850.