Obama items hit the auction circuit with dress, basketball jersey
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[September 30, 2020]
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A cocktail
dress worn by Michelle Obama during her time at the White House and a
basketball jersey worn by Barack Obama at high school are among rare
items from the former U.S. president and his wife to join the celebrity
auction circuit.
The dress, a black vintage Norman Norell 1950s gown worn by Michelle
Obama during a 2010 holiday fundraiser in Washington, is expected to
fetch $50,000 to $70,000 when it goes up for sale in December at
Julien's Auctions, the company in Beverly Hills, California, said on
Wednesday.
It is the first dress worn by Michelle Obama, who became a style icon
during her eight years at the White House, ever to come to auction,
Julien's said.
The items were not put up for sale by the couple.
"The Obamas' personal items ... don't come up very often," said Kody
Frederick, gallery director for Julien's Auctions. "But every now and
again some things fall through the cracks."
Barack Obama's game-worn basketball jersey from his days on the Punahou
School team in Hawaii comes with the 1979 school yearbook, which
includes photos of him playing.
The white mesh pullover has the name Punahou and the number 23 on the
front and back. The jersey and yearbook have a pre-sale estimate of
$150,000 to $200,000.
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President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and their
daughters Malia (L), Sasha (2nd L) greet children dressed as elves
at the Christmas in Washington Celebration at the National Building
Museum in Washington, DC, U.S. December 12, 2010. REUTERS/Yuri
Gripas/File Photo
Obama's love for basketball continued during his eight years as
president, and he converted a tennis court at the White House to a
basketball court.
Frederick said he expected interest to come from "sports collectors,
history collectors and those who want to feel part of the legacy of
President Obama."
The two items will be auctioned from Dec. 4-6. The Obama pieces will
go on public exhibition at the Museum of Style Icons in Newbridge,
Ireland, and at Julien's in Beverly Hills ahead of the sale.
(Reporting by Jill Serjeant and Omar Younis; Editing by Richard
Chang)
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