George Washington: Substantial Lock of Hair. Lock of Washington's hair held together with blue thread, measuring 3 1/2" long and 1/2" tall. The color is a light reddish-brown. It comes with three pieces of period documentation or provenance. One is a 2 1/4" x 2" folded packet, inscribed on the front: "General Washington's hair. H.F.P.C." and, on the back "I only send you one hair because I only had three. F." One is a 2 1/2" x 1 5/8" folded packet, inscribed: "The President Genl. Geo. Washington's hair given by Eleanor Parke Custis to Sarah Broome; by her daughter Julia Livingston and by her to Mrs. T. W. Ludlow. Original date Feby. 10th 1789. Given to Mrs. Ludlow at Grasmere May 24th 1853." The third is a 2 1/2" x 4 3/4" envelope with similar inscription as above, but dated January 1875 (image posted on-line). The hair is accompanied by a detailed provenance, or chain of ownership. "This lock of President George Washington's hair has been in the continuous possession of the extended families of Lewis Morris (1726-1798) and Robert Hunter Morris (1700-1764) since 1789." The initials on the first packet ("H.F.P.C.") are those of Harriet Frances Putnam Carnochan (1859-1905), a great grand-daughter of Declaration of Independence signer Lewis Morris. Grasmere was the Rhinebeck, New York estate of Julia and Lewis Livingston. Eleanor "Nelly" Custis was 10 years old when she gave the lock of hair to 14-year old Sarah Broome. The consignor has graciously provided a lovely silver jewelry box for the lock's safekeeping.