A life-jacket from the doomed transatlantic cruise ship the Titanic, which hit an iceberg in 1912 and sank with the loss of 1500 lives, is to go on auction, Christie's said.

It is one of only six life-jackets still known to exist from the Titanic and had been kept in a trunk by a Canadian family since the sinking.

Christie's said in statement on Wednesday that a similar life-vest sold in London in 2007 for 119 000 dollars. The auction house valued its item as worth between $60 000 and $80 000.

It is the first Titanic life-jacket to go on sale in the United States, and Christie's says the ties have not been cut, meaning it was probably not taken from a body but found on an isolated beach after the disaster.

About 700 people are believed to survived the sinking of the Titanic, one of the worst ever maritime disasters.

Other souvenirs from the ship such as crockery and glassware often go on auction, triggering a lot of interest from collectors.

Among the 250 items to go on sale at the end of the month are an essay by 12-year-old schoolgirl Bertha Watt who survived, and a list of second-class passengers which she drew up.

AFP