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US News

Presidential memorabilia, including a lock of George Washington’s hair, to be sold at NYC auction

By
Caitlin McCormack
Published Nov. 4, 2024, 12:24 a.m. ET
 

A lock of President George Washington’s hair and a whole slew of other rare presidential memorabilia will be put up for auction later this month as the country learns who the next president will be.

The locket holding a graying chunk of Washington’s hair was originally a gift to a family friend of the first president’s but has since been passed down for generations and will find a new home following the auction, hosted by New York City-based Guernsey’s auction house.

The starting big for the historical hair is set at $15,000.

A blue oval shaped pendant featuring a lock of George Washington's hair for auction, starting at $15,000
A blue oval-shaped pendant featuring a lock of George Washington’s hair
for auction, starting at $15,000. Guernseys

“We’re conducting an auction of a number of the most historic objects relating to American history that has ever come up for sale,” said Arlan Ettinger, president of New York-based Guernsey’s auction house.

Other items up for auction include the American flag that covered Abraham Lincoln’s coffin following his assassination, a 49-star flag from 1959 before Hawaii was declared a state, never-before-seen presidential portraits, and even a painting of Lincoln reading the Emancipation Proclamation that currently hangs in the US Capitol building.

Lock of George Washington's hair displayed on a book, a piece of presidential memorabilia for auction
Lock of George Washington’s hair displayed on a book, a piece of presidential memorabilia for auction. Guernseys
Lock of George Washington's hair displayed on an open book, for sale at NYC auction starting at $15,000
Lock of George Washington’s hair displayed on an open book, for sale at NYC auction. Guernseys

“We don’t know what’s going to happen at the election, but one way or another, there’s great focus on the Office of Presidency right now and American history,” Ettinger said.

Lincoln’s funeral flag is expected to sell for anywhere between $800,000 and $1.2 million. Ettinger noted that putting a value on such an exceedingly rare and unique item was difficult.

Abraham Lincoln's funeral train coffin flag up for auction, decorated with stars
Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train coffin flag will be up for auction. Guernseys
Close-up view of Abraham Lincoln's Funeral Train Coffin Flag, an item of Presidential memorabilia, to be auctioned in NYC
The back of the flag on Abraham Lincoln’s funeral train, dated April 14, 1865, the day of his assassination. Guernseys

A different locket containing some of Washington’s hair was sold at Leland’s auction in April 2021 for nearly $40,000.

Over 100 institutions in the United States have a clipping of the first president’s hair. His home in Mount Vernon has nearly 50 samples alone, according to the Philly Voice.

The new locket going up for auction is being de-accessed from a museum in Pennsylvania for the auction, according to the Guernsey website. It features an entirely different case compared to the Leland one, complete with a royal blue ribbon and backing.

The Nov. 22 sale will be held online and live at the Arader Galleries in New York City.

With Post Wires.