A British auction house has caused an uproar over its plans to sell a vial containing former President Ronald Reagan’s blood.
Peter Fraser Collectibles claims that the vial of dried blood residue which is now up for bidding was taken by a woman who worked at Bio Science Laboratories, which did Reagan’s bloodwork while he was recuperating from an assassination attempt in 1981.
According to CBS News, bidding for the vial passed $11,000 U.S. dollars as of Tuesday afternoon. The auction lasts until Thursday, but some want to see it stopped immediately.
“If indeed this story is true, it’s a craven act and we will use every legal means to stop its sale or purchase,” said executive director of the Reagan Foundation John Heubusch in a statement. “Any individual, including a president of the United States, should feel confident that once they enter into the care of a medical system their privacy and rights are held inviolable.”
The auction house claims that it contacted the Reagan National Library about selling the blood sample to them, but was told that it could only be accepted as a donation. The vial’s owner — a self-described “Reaganomics” fan — told CBS News that “President Reagan himself would rather see me sell it rather than donating it,” leading him to put it up for auction.
None of the bidders for Reagan’s blood have been publicly identified, but don’t count out Sean Hannity — who is a noted collector of insane conservative memorabilia — or Mitt Romney, who may hope to use the blood to win over right wing Republicans once and for all.
