For the first time ever 5,500 artifacts from the RMS Titanic will be sold at auction, 100 years after the ship's maiden voyage. 　　New York based auction house, Guernsey's, will be offering the complete collection of objects found at the ship wreck site two and a half miles below the ocean's surface. There were total 7 expeditions to the site over 17 years, recovering 5,500 artifacts from the wreck of the Titanic. 　　However, even with the huge number of artifacts being recovered, the auction house said that the collection must be sold only as a collection in its entirety. It's not being broken up into various pieces, based on a court decision that took place last year. 　　The court also deemed that the items must be properly maintained and be placed on view for the public. In addition to the artifacts, data and videos from numerous recovery and fact finding missions will be auctioned in the sale. 　　Some of these items include 3-D images of the ship, video of dives and the first and only comprehensive survey map of the wreck site. 　　According to the auction house president, Arlan Ettinger., this auction is considered one of the most significant and comprehensive sales of Titanic material. 　　He said that scientists believe the ship's remains are eroding and that this collection could very well be all that will remain of the Titanic in years to come.The collection was listed at 189 million US dollars. 　　"They came up with the very substantial figure of $189 million (USD), $189 million (USD). Truly a huge number by any standard and yet when you think about it, not long ago a few months ago, a painting, a single painting was sold for $250 million (USD). 　　The argument that could be made is that is there a painting anywhere on earth that is more valuable than all the entire Titanic collection." 　　The one key is that the new owner needs to keep some portion of the items together on display so that public can see them in the future. 　　The Titanic Preservation Trust, will also receive a portion of the funds from the sale in order to continue preserving the artifacts. 　　The auction will take place on April 11 at the Intrepid museum in New York City, nearly one mile from where the Titanic was supposed to dock on arrival.