Despite the incredible journey from lincoln's assassination by john wilkes booth at ford's theatre on april 14, 1865, to their sale in 2020, the provenance of the items was thoroughly. A lock of abraham lincoln's hair, wrapped in a bloodstained telegram about his 1865 assassination, is up for sale A lock of abraham lincoln's hair along with a bloodstained telegram about his 1865 assassination have been sold at auction for more than $81,000.