It's a hair thing. Collecting hair has become a big business, and I'm not talking about just any old hair, but hair of the rich and famous.
John Reznikoff has a collectible shop in Westport, Ct, where he has a copy of the Declaration of Independence and Ernest Hemmingway's briefcase typewriter, but says his best piece is a $500,000 strand of Abraham Lincoln's hair. he says it was taken from Lincoln on his deathbed and the detritus is dried brain matter.
He also has strands of hair from George Washington, John F. Kennedy, Napoleon, Beethoven, and Chopin.
NO LONGER A GENTLEMAN'S HOBBY
At the turn of the 20th Century, it was the hobby of a few dozen gentlemen, but, today, it is a multi-million dollar industry. It first took hold in the Victorian Era where admirors would ask for a lock of hair instead of an autograph.
Today, thousands clamor for Marilyn Monroe's hair (rare), Katherine Hepburn (rarer) and Elvis Presley (rarest).
Now, with DNA, the lives of celebrities are open to investigation. In October, one collector spent $119,000 for Che Guevera's hair. Babe Ruth's hair went for $38,000 and John Lennon's for $48,000/
There are Big Bucks in Hair, Indeed.
THE REZNIKOFF COLLECTION
Some of his specimens are John Wilkes Booth, John Dillinger, and recently, Eva Braun's. Most of his archive came from the Margaretta Pierrepont collection. She was the wife of President US Grant's attorney general. Reznikoff purchased the 60 locks for about $100,000.
July 31st Chicago Tribune. By Jerry Guo, New York Times NewsService.
She Asked Me Why, Why I'm a Hairy Guy. For the Money Says I. --Cooter
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