What’s Happening?
A verified piece of Captain Cook’s Endeavour will be offered at Noble Numismatics Sale 142 later this month.
The rare timber formed part of the ship’s keel and carries a handwritten label recording its history. The relic was donated to a school library in England during the 19th century. A Sydney Cook scholar later obtained it in the 1980s.
Live and online bidding will be available from Tuesday 28 July to Thursday 30 July. Worldwide interest is expected because verified Endeavour material rarely reaches auction.
Why It Matters?
The fragment has significance because its history can be followed through its label and previous ownership.
It also survives outside the protected wreck site in Newport Harbour, Rhode Island. The remaining ship timbers are buried beneath silt and saturated with water.
Those timbers would deteriorate quickly if removed and exposed to air. A local historical commission also protects the wreck from recovery.
The auction piece therefore offers collectors a rare physical connection to Endeavour without disturbing the remaining wreck.
Local Impact
Australian collectors and historical organisations will have the chance to bid on an item linked to Captain Cook’s voyage.
The timber has already spent several decades in Australia after entering a Sydney collection during the 1980s.
The sale will be held at “Wyoming”, 175 Macquarie Street, with online bidding available for buyers outside the venue.
Noble Numismatics will conduct the broader sale live over four days. It will feature ancient and modern coins, banknotes and historical medals.
Stamps, documents, memorabilia, antiquities, jewellery, militaria, orders and decorations will also be offered.
By the Numbers
- Experts have placed the timber’s current value at $250,000, reflecting its rarity and verified connection to Endeavour.
- The attached label records Cook’s voyage across 1768, 1769 and 1770, while the ship was scuttled in 1778.
- A Sydney Cook scholar acquired the timber during the 1980s.
Zoom In
The timber carries a handwritten label in 18th century script. The wording records the item’s claimed connection to Endeavour.
“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”.
The label has remained with the fragment through its time in England and Australia. It forms an important part of the item’s documented history.
Zoom Out
The Royal Navy deliberately scuttled HM Bark Endeavour in Newport Harbour in 1778.
The sinking occurred during the American Revolutionary War and aimed to stop French ships from entering the harbour.
The surviving remains later settled beneath layers of silt. Their saturated condition now prevents safe recovery.
The protected wreck remains in Rhode Island, while verified pieces outside the site are limited.
What To Look For Next?
Strong international bidding could push the final sale price beyond the $250,000 estimate.
The winning bid may also determine whether the relic remains in Australia or moves into an overseas collection.
