A waistcoat owned by British explorer Captain James Cook has been referred at auction for $438,000, well below the pre-auction estimate of $609,920–$838,640.
Director and auctioneer at Aalders Auctions, Julian Aalders explained that the piece was exceedingly important.
“This is a once in a lifetime find, I believe. There have been a few Captain Cook items come up but probably nothing as significant as this waistcoat.”
According to Aalders, The waistcoat was probably made sometime around 1770, around the time Captain Cook landed in Australia. She said the floral embroidery might have been inspired by Cook’s memories of Australia.
The auctioneer said Cook’s family kept the waistcoat in the United Kingdom until 1835.
The explorer died from a knife wound in Hawaii in 1779.
The piece was sold by an antique dealer to a British industrialist in 1912. The businessman gave it as a gift to prominent Sydney pianist Ruby Rich, who had it altered to fit her figure so she could wear it. Apparently, she spilled wine on it at a party.
Cook was the first European to land on the continent’s east coast and confirm its existence.
Based on Cook’s report, England decided to make Australia a penal colony in 1787.
Cook was the first European to sail around New Zealand and to map Australia’s east coast.
He was stabbed to death by Hawaiian tribesman while trying to kidnap their king in 1779.
