A lock of George Washington's hair is set to see strong bids at Grey Flannel Auctions, as details of its Ninth Annual Basketball Hall of Fame Auction on August 20 emerge.
 The market for collectible hair is growing fast |
The sale is centred on sports memorabilia, though a selection of historical items also highlight. Washington's hair holds a reserve of $3,000.
Framed and matted in a "museum-quality" display, the lock (12 strands) of Washington's hair comes with a swatch from his cloak, as well as a section of a document he signed.
The market for collectible hair is strong, with personal items offering collectors a chance to get closer to some of history's most important figures. Recent sales include Marilyn Monroe, Mick Jagger and Napoleon.
Discover the history of hair collecting.
The lock of hair is joined in the sale by two original black and white mugshots of gangster John Dillinger, which are estimated at a combined $2,500.
A bloodstained piece of leather from the back seat of the limousine that John F Kennedy was assassinated in provides a haunting lot for the auction. Mounted and accompanied by documents "attesting to its lineage", it holds a reserve of $1,000.
Paul Fraser Collectibles specialises in famous and historical hair, offering the largest selection available online.
