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Revolutionary Roots: Che's Hair for Sale

Rumors say Chavez of Venezeula is interested 'mystery buyer'

By Zach Samalin,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 25, 2007 7:40 PM CDT
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(Newser) – A scrapbook including photos of Che Guevara's corpse, hand-written letters from comrades-in-arms, and a lock of the revolutionary's hair snipped after he was shot to death are on a Dallas auction block with a starting price of $100,000. The collection belongs to a former CIA operative who helped track, kill, and bury Che 40 years ago in Bolivia, Reuters reports.

The auction has attracted international attention, including that of notable Che admirer Hugo Chavez, observers say. "We shipped a catalog overnight detailing the items to a very interested Venezuelan buyer," said a gallery official, adding that the strand may prove whether it was indeed Che's remains reburied in Cuba. The gallery has previously sold hair of Lincoln, Elvis, and Marilyn Monroe.

Hair collected after the death of Ernesto Che Guevara, is shown Wednesday Oct. 24, 2007. The dogmatic Marxist whose iconic picture has gradually become a popular, even sometimes fashionable commodity since the Argentinian was killed in a Bolivian jungle in 1967. (AP Photo/Amy Conn-Gutierrez)
Hair collected after the death of Ernesto "Che" Guevara, is shown Wednesday Oct. 24, 2007. The dogmatic Marxist whose iconic picture has gradually become a popular, even sometimes fashionable commodity...   (Associated Press)
A photo of Enesto Che Guevara after his death is shown Wednesday Oct. 24, 2007 at the Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas. The auction house is putting a lock of his hair, allegedly snipped off Guevara before burial, up for sale Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007. He was killed in a...
A photo of Enesto "Che" Guevara after his death is shown Wednesday Oct. 24, 2007 at the Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas. The auction house is putting a lock of his hair, allegedly snipped off Guevara...   (Associated Press)
Enesto Che Guevara's fingerprints collected after his death are shown Wednesday Oct. 24, 2007 at the Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas. The auction house is puttinga lock of his hair, allegedly snipped off before burial, up for sale. (AP Photo/ Heritage Auction Galleries)
Enesto "Che" Guevara's fingerprints collected after his death are shown Wednesday Oct. 24, 2007 at the Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas. The auction house is puttinga lock of his hair, allegedly...   (Associated Press)
Che Guevara, Havana, 1964.
Che Guevara, Havana, 1964.   (Magnum Photos)
Che Guevara, Havana 1963.
Che Guevara, Havana 1963.   (Magnum Photos)
A passport photo from Argentina of Enesto Che Guevara is shown Wednesday Oct. 24, 2007 at the Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas. The auction house is putting a lock of his hair, allegedly snipped before burial, up for sale Thursday, Oct. 25, 2007. He was killed in a Bolivian jungle...
A passport photo from Argentina of Enesto "Che" Guevara is shown Wednesday Oct. 24, 2007 at the Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas. The auction house is putting a lock of his hair, allegedly snipped...   (Associated Press)
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Fidel Castro • auction • Che Guevara • Cuban Revolution • Hugo Chávez

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