Napoleon’s hair auctioned in New Zealand

AUCKLAND - A lock of French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte’s hair was part of a collection of relics from the last year’s of his life that were auctioned in this New Zealand city.

Napoleon’s lock of hair, which is preserved in a case, fetched $19,000 while a sketch of the French leader on his death bed went for $21,000, Radio New Zealand reported Tuesday.

The memorabilia date from Napoleon’s period of exile on the island of St Helena between 1815 and 1821. These were found in a suitcase in Waikato region.

The suitcase belonged to Denzil Ibbetson, a commissary officer on St Helena during Napoleon’s exile there.

There was considerable interest from around the world, said Hamish Coney, managing director of the Art + Object auction house.