Opening Day Auction Closing May 9th
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/10/2015
Offered is a remarkable piece of history linked to arguably the most prominent figure in the United States of America’s existence --- George Washington. The country’s first President and leader of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, what makes Washington more recognizable than his iconic head of white hair? Though most men in the 1700s sported wigs, Washington did not. Here we have five strands of Washington’s hair, measuring approximately 1 to 1 ¼-inch each, acquired by the Custis-Powell family, according to included documentation. It is believed this lock of hair was first obtained by Eleanor Parke Custis, the granddaughter of Martha Washington who was adopted by George and raised at Mount Vernon. Tracing the hair’s history, it appears it then came into the possession of Colonel Levin Powell, a close friend to Washington and fellow Revolutionary War hero. A copy of an original documentation of the hair’s travels, dated to 1845, is included with this item, which last belonged to famed hair collector John Reznikoff. A COA from University Archives, signed by Reznikoff, also is included with the Washington hair display.