Bob Marley Dreadlock Up for Auction

A small dreadlock from Bob Marley has been estimated to sell for £25,000 ($33K US) at an upcoming auction in the UK, NME magazine reports.

The 1.5-inch dreadlock was given to a fan at a Top of the Pops performance by Bob Marley and The Wailers on June 22, 1978, after they performed their song "Satisfy My Soul".

The unidentified fan said, “after Bob Marley had finished singing, myself and a friend went up onto the platform where he was performing. 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.”

The autograph reads, "To Andrea Love Bob Marley". The autograph alone is estimated to be worth £4,000 ($5,295 US) alone, according to NME.

"JC Auctions estimates that the lock will go for between £20,000-£25,000 ($26K-$33K US) when it goes on auction on April 9. It will be the first Bob Marley dreadlock to auction in over 20 years, and will be accompanied by the signature."

View the auction and bid here.

The auction house describes the lot, in part, "Acquired by the consignor as a teenager at the filming of Top of the Pops at BBC’s Television Centre in London on Thursday, June 22, 1978."

"This is the first genuine example of Bob Marley’s hair to come up for sale in 20 years."

"The lot also features an original Top of the Pops promotional flyer."

The taping included additional performances by Black Sabbath, Heatwave, Showaddywaddy, Brotherhood of Man, San Jose, Thin Lizzy, and Legs & Co.

Bob Marley (Photo credit: Michael Ochs)