Rare Captain Cook's Endeavour keel heads to auction
A verified piece valued at $250,000, will be sold at auction in Sydney next week.
What’s Happening?
A verified piece of Captain Cook’s Endeavour will go under the hammer in Sydney next week. Worldwide interest is expected because the rare timber formed part of the ship’s keel.
The relic will be offered at Noble Numismatics Sale 142 from Tuesday, 28 July to Thursday, 30 July. It was donated to an English school library during the 19th century.
A Sydney scholar specialising in Captain Cook later obtained the timber during the 1980s. Experts have now estimated its value at $250,000.
Why It Matters?
The timber offers a rare physical connection to one of the world’s best-known exploration ships. Its history can also be traced through its handwritten label and previous ownership.
Few pieces of Endeavour can be removed because the remaining ship timbers are buried beneath Newport Harbour. Their condition means they would quickly deteriorate after exposure to air.
The wreck is also protected by a local historical commission, limiting access to the remaining material. This makes verified pieces already held in collections particularly significant.
Local Impact
The relic will be sold at Wyoming, 175 Macquarie Street, Sydney, with online bidding also available. The live sale is expected to attract collectors from Australia and overseas.
Noble says the broader sale will be conducted over four days. It will include ancient and modern coins, banknotes, medals, stamps, documents and historical memorabilia.
Antiquities, military items, jewellery, decorations and other rare pieces will also be offered. The Endeavour timber is expected to be among the sale’s most closely followed items.
By the Numbers
Experts have valued the Endeavour keel fragment at $250,000, reflecting its rarity and verified connection to the ship.
The handwritten label links the timber to Cook’s voyage during 1768, 1769 and 1770.
The Royal Navy scuttled the ship in 1778 during the American Revolutionary War.
Zoom In
The timber carries a handwritten label in 18th-century script, recording its claimed history and connection to Cook.
“This is part of the keel of the Ship Endeavour which, under the command of James Cook, Esq. circumnavigated the Globe in 1768 - 1769 & 1770. Broken up at Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.A. 1796.”
A tiny and faint signature or collection mark appears in the bottom-left corner. It appears to read “Dr Elton”.
Zoom Out
The remains of HM Bark Endeavour are buried in silt at Newport Harbour in Rhode Island. The Royal Navy deliberately sank the ship to stop French vessels from entering the harbour.
The remaining timbers are now saturated after spending centuries underwater. Removing them would expose the wood to air and cause rapid deterioration.
The wreck site remains protected by a local historical commission, which prevents the remaining material from being recovered.
What To Look For Next?
International bidding could push the final price beyond the estimated $250,000 value. The result may also show the demand for verified items linked to Captain Cook and Endeavour.