Description:

RELICS FROM THE FIRST U.S. MERCHANT SHIP SUNK BY A U-BOAT
On May 21, 1941 the unarmed U.S. freighter ROBIN MOOR, en route to South Africa and Mozambique, was stopped and sunk by German submarine U-69 about 700 miles off the west coast of Africa. The ship--her nationality prominently reflected in the U.S. flags painted on her sides--became the first American merchantman sunk by a U-boat in World War II. There were no casualties among her 38-man crew and eight passengers, and U-69's commanding officer, Kapitanleutnant Jost Metzler, provided the Americans with rations. However, the event brought about the closing of the German and Italian embassies in Washington and pushed the U.S. closer to war. Offered here are three rare relics of that sinking: a 6.5 x 5 x 2 in. section of cork used to provide buoyancy to a life vest, as well as a 4.5 x 3 in. section of loth and a 5.5 x 1.25 in. section of securing tie, all cut from a life vest by a vandal decades ago and sold piecemeal. They are sold with original photos of the untouched life vest marked with the doomed ship's ship's name and handwritten provenance.

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*SEE ADITTIONAL SHIPPING ABOVE* -Shipments are sent via FedEx and DHL (for most overseas shipments) or FedEx Ground at the auctioneer's option. Due to complications from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we will ship with USPS Priority Mail only if the buyer submits their request to us in writing and accepts responsibility for delayed shipments. Signature is always required, unless other arrangements are made. Handling and shipping charges will be added to the invoice in one entry. Buyers should be aware that large, framed, fragile or odd shaped items can incur substantial shipping and packing charges. International shipments are invoiced by DIMENSIONAL weight, not the item weight. Please contact us for an estimate before bidding NOTE: Large, heavy or bulky items may not be shipped by the auctioneer - arrangements for shipping of these items via a third-party shipper may be arranged through the auction house. Customers who supply their own courier account number will still be charged a handling fee. Please allow 2-3 weeks for shipments after receipt of payment due to the high volume of packages being shipped.

November 13, 2025 10:00 AM EST
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $499 $20
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $999,999 $10,000
$1,000,000 $1,999,999 $50,000
$2,000,000 + $100,000