Ticket collecting is generally a pursuit of moments of triumph, origins of greatness or other celebratory events.
But one ticket set to sell this week at SCP Auctions falls in its own category, one that carries the weight of immense loss and tragedy.
On Sept. 10, 2001, a visitor purchased a ticket to the World Trade Center Observatories at 7:51 p.m. ET. It was raining that evening, and the visitor opted to postpone the trip to the top of the tower to the following day.
Of course, we all know what occurred the next day, as the World Trade Center was struck by planes hijacked by terrorists, resulting in the twin towers’ destruction, as well as the loss of life of 2,977 innocent people.
There is no argument whether this moment was historic — it defined an era of U.S. foreign and domestic policy and remains one of the most indelible images in the memories of all those old enough to remember that horrific day.
However, the question of whether or not auction houses and collectors should be dealing in items like these as collectibles remains an ethical dilemma.
By no means is this the first time this industry has grappled with the question of where to draw the line regarding items of controversial nature.
We’ve seen debates over everything from Nazi memorabilia — a collector purchased more than $300,000 of Adolf Hitler and Nazi memorabilia in 2016, generating outrage from media outlets and commentators around the world — to bloodstained pieces of President Lincoln’s deathbed and beyond.
Some items — such as those related to and in some scenarios, in celebration of Hitler and the Nazis' rule — are easily dismissed as beyond the pale. However, the market for O.J. Simpson’s rookie cards remain mostly unassailed.
It’s not for me to say where this ticket lies on the spectrum of controversial items, nor imbue motive to the eventual buyer — it currently sits at a bid of $9,000 with four days remaining at auction — but it is certainly an item worthy of retrospection.
At first, my mind leaps to the many stories of near-misses. People who, due to a fluke of luck, missed a flight, were late to work, or any other number of stories which kept them from harm’s way during the morning of Sept. 11. Growing up 20 miles from the Ground Zero, these stories have always been a huge part of my understanding and remembrance of the event, in addition to the mourning of those who perished.
Maybe this ticket is the ultimate representation of those stories, uniquely and somewhat uneasily fitted into the shape and form — a slabbed PSA-graded ticket — of other, more mainstream collectibles.
Given its distinction as the “Last Known Ticket Purchased Before 9/11 Attacks” and the associated value likely to be attributed to its proximity to disaster provides me with additional moral unrest. The prospect of one profiting due to the random odds of owning a piece of paper which precedes disaster is not one that fills me with pride for the state of collectibles.
But again I return to the story of those near-misses and how this ticket encapsulates that in such a poignant way. It truly is a historic piece, one which I would be glad to see on display in the 9/11 Memorial Museum, accompanied by proper context.
At the end of the day, this ticket is not unique — PSA has graded 75 unused tickets from the year and two others from Sept. 10, 2001, indicating plenty of people find these to be mementos worth preserving.
It’s important to note this exact ticket was sold by RR Auctions in February for $7,774, meaning the consignor — not the original owner, nor someone with any known connection to the event — will be making a profit after flipping this ticket in such quick fashion.
As I wrestle with the ethics of this item, I find myself siding with auction houses who decide it to be fair game to sell, considering the eventual owner might well treat it with the respect and care one hopes for a piece of memorabilia tied to such a delicate moment. But, knowing the consignor is set to profit in mere months since first buying the ticket, I am less than enthused by the prospect of the transactional nature.
Maybe it will land in the hands of someone with intentions greater than those of pure dollars, ideally with the intent of loaning to a museum or utilizing it for educational and memorial purposes.
But regardless, this is an item that feels indicative of the struggles many collectors and auctioneers must grapple with when it comes to pieces relating to events of sensitive nature — and one that can hopefully help generate a sensible and nuanced dialogue.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.