Description:

Brown John 1800 - 1859 AbolitionistJohn Brown strands of hair, beautifully presented

John Brown (May 9, 1800 - December 2, 1859) was an abolitionist who was best known for leading an unsuccessful armed raid at a federal armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia in 1859. The goal of the raid was to start a liberation movement amongst the slaves in that area. After the unsuccessful Harpers Ferry raid, Brown was found guilty of treason by the Commonwealth of Virginia and was hanged. Many historians believe John Brown played a major role in the start of the Civil War.

Offered here is a unique relic that directly links us to the personage of John Brown. This collection of five hair strands, mounted in plastic, derives from the John Reznikoff Hair Collection, certified in 2014 as the largest Hair Collection by The Guinness Book of World Records. The strands are encapsulated below a portrait of Brown. Beautifully presented on a 8.5" x 11" sheet on light card stock with University Archives certification along the bottom. The original lock was obtained from C. Godrey Gunther, former Mayor Of New York City, 1864-1865, then by descent and ultimately purchased at auction.

Hair collecting was a proper and very personal way of remembering someone, and began during the Victorian era. It predated photography and was superior to autograph collecting as it better connected the person with the owner.

Full Letter of Authenticity from John Reznikoff, a noted expert in the field, including a copy of the Guinness Book of World Record page, noting Reznikoff's collection. Includes documentation setting forth provenance.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. Shipping and handling costs are competitive as we maintain discounted contracts with FedEx. If you have any questions, contact University Archives prior to bidding. After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 5 business days following receipt of full payment for item. We currently ship via FedEx but if your purchase is shipping to a P.O. Box, we ship via USPS. All items are insured. We ship from our offices in Westport, CT. We may opt to use a third party shipper for very fragile, bulky or oversized items. Items requiring third party shipping will be denoted in the item description. Packages shipped internationally will have full value declared on shipping form. International buyers will be responsible for any customs fees incurred.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Westport, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

University Archives

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$5,000 $9,999 $500
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$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000