A piece of reggae royalty is hitting the auction block. A 1.5-inch segment of Bob Marley's iconic dreadlocks is expected to command up to £25,000 when it goes under the hammer this April.
The rare hair artifact dates back to a 1978 appearance on the classic British music show Top of the Pops. The legendary musician was on the program performing his hit single "Satisfy My Soul" alongside The Wailers.
According to the seller, the unique piece of memorabilia was acquired directly from the singer's head during a surprisingly casual post-performance encounter.
"After Bob Marley had finished singing, myself and a friend went up onto the platform where he was performing," the current owner recalled. "He was chuckling away and I asked if I could take off a piece of his hair. He just kept nodding and chuckling and appeared amused by it so I twisted a piece of his dreadlock off. And he of course gave me his autograph as well."
That accompanying autograph is included in the lot and is independently valued at an estimated £4,000. Bristol-based JC Auctions will host the highly anticipated sale, which officially kicks off on April 9.
The upcoming event marks a significant opportunity for music historians and memorabilia collectors alike, as it represents the first time in more than two decades that one of the reggae pioneer's dreadlocks has surfaced at auction.