The ashes are part of the upcoming Icons & Idols: Hollywood sale at Julien’s Auctions, where past sales have included Kurt Cobain’s cardigan and Whitey Bulger’s punching bag.
The remains of the controversial In Cold Blood author remained in the possession of his friend Joanne Carson in the 31 years between his death and hers last year. According to Julien’s, she often said that they brought her “great comfort”.
“I am sure people are going to think this is disrespectful, but this is a fact: Truman Capote loved the element of shock,” said auctioneer Darren Julien in an interview with Vanity Fair. “He loved publicity. And I’m sure he’s looking down laughing and saying ‘That’s something I would have done.’”
Though clippings of celebrities’ hair make frequent appearances at auction (a lock of John Lennon’s made $35,000 at Heritage Auctions this year), few examples of memorabilia comparable to the upcoming Capote lot have come on the market.
In 2010 the ashes of Frisky the cat, who was a regular on Coronation Street, took a six-times-estimate £844 including buyer’s premium at a 2010 sale at a Dominic Winter sale.
Capote’s ashes are estimated at $4000-6000. They are stored in a carved Japanese carved wooden box marked Date of Cremation: August 28: 1984.
The auction takes place on September 23–24 and also includes Dr Spock ear appliance moulds from the TV show Star Trek and the dress Barbara Streisand wore to the Academy Awards in 1960.
