George Washington can still sell.
The nation's first president left behind all manner of items that have become artifacts, mementoes, and treasured possessions over the years since his death. A set of his personal items recently sold at auction for a sum topping $167,000. Not bad for a guy long dead, even if he did confess to chopping down a cherry tree once upon a time.
Among the items were a compass, which would be a hot item because he was a noted surveyor before he ever joined the British Army or rebelled against it. The compass alone accounted for $59,750, more than experts expected. Also selling for big bucks was a collection of hundreds of Washington family papers, which together brought in $50,788.
A group of bits of his silver coffin also sold, for more than $12,000. That would be pieces of his original coffin. His body was moved to a marble sarcophagus in 1837.The items were sold after the death of Nat Washington, a descendant of George Washington's brother Bushrod, who was named custodian of Mount Vernon after his famous brother's death. The "Father of Our Country," remember, left no direct descendants.
The auction took place in Dallas and was run by Heritage.
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