Mr Straus was a Bavaria-born American businessman, politician, and co-owner of Macy’s department store in New York.

On the night of the sinking, it is believed his devoted wife refused a place in a lifeboat as she did not want to leave her husband and said she would rather die by his side.

The body of Ida Straus was never found.

A letter written by Mrs Straus on Titanic stationery and posted while she was onboard the ship, which was built in Belfast, fetched £100,000 at the auction.

A Titanic passenger list was purchased for £104,000 and a gold medal awarded to the crew of the RMS Carpathia by rescued survivors sold for £86,000.

The auction of Titanic-related memorabilia reached £3m in total.