A lock of hair, a magic writing cap, prescription glasses, and a blank signed cheque are but a few of the many items that were gifted and owned by Leonard Cohen, set to go up for auction next month.
Julien's Auctions will host the once-in-a-lifetime auction featuring “the largest group of privately held collections of the legendary poet, singer and songwriter’s archival material and personal effects ever to come to auction.”
Donated by Cohen's editors and friends Cork Smith and Nancy Bacal, his former lover and collaborator Anjani Thomas, and Aviva Layton, who had a decades-long friendship with Cohen along with her ex-husband Canadian poet Irving Layton.
“The [official Cohen] archives vacuumed up anything that came in the market rather quickly,” Thomas told Rolling Stone. “So there isn’t a lot available, nor will there be. So this is one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.”
Smith and Bacal are donating poems, signed published works by the author and "revealing memos and correspondence" in regards to his work. Layton is donating a selection of gifts, correspondence, photographs, Leonard’s “magic writing” cap, books and artwork. Thomas, on the other hand, is donating hand-drawn greeting cards, art prints, notebooks and jewelry (including a locket containing Cohen's hair).
About that lock of hair, Thomas said, “We were cutting his hair one day, and he had just given me a locket for my birthday. And I thought it was a traditional thing to put a snippet of hair in a locket. It’s a very olden-times-custom.”
The live auction is set to begin at 10:00AM PST on February 28, 2025.
See the full lot of items here.