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Want to Buy a Famous Casket? Me Neither...

I understood when people bought sections of the parque floor the Boston Celtics played on. I've seen parts of the floor the Bruins played on, signed by John Wooden and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (side note: wonder if anyone asked the big fella to sign Lew Alcindor while he was Kareem. I know Ali would sometimes sign as Cassius Clay after the name change).

Anywhoooo....I just saw that the wooden coffin Lee Harvey Oswald was buried in will be auctioned. And the wackos at the auction house (no offense D. Sanders) think they'll get $100,000 for it. My guess -- nobody will bid over $1,000.

Sure, it's a piece of U.S. history, but the thing is in bad shape, and nobody probably cares. I know, I know...you're thinkin about the casino that bought the piece of toast with the Virgin Mary burned into it; but I think people flock to see religious things like that. People aren't dying to see morbid memorabilia (oh yeah, that pun was intended).

Texas mortuary owner Allen Baumgardner (come on...is that his real name?) got the modest coffin after it was exhumed in 1981 amid conspiracy theories that Oswald wasn't in it. Oswald was then reburied in another coffin. Hell, why not auction off Lee? His skeleton might've garnered a pretty penny.

This big slab of wood is water damaged after its 17 years at six feet under, so...it won't look as nice in the den next to the other memorabilia you got in the trophy case.

Tags: Abdul-Jabbar, Alcindor, Ali, Board, Cassius, Clay, Harvey, Josh, Kareem, Lee, More…Lew, Oswald, auction, autographs

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Comment by Richard S. Simon on December 4, 2010 at 5:43am: The casino bought the Virgin Mary toast to buy the publicity that came with what seemed like an insane purchase. They received a million dollars worth of publicity/advertising for the price of that toast. But who would want to publicize owning Lee Harvey Oswald's casket? Not me and I am a JFK collector and own signed pieces of Oswald, Ruby, Shaw and a number of the witnesses.

Comment by Roger Furr on December 4, 2010 at 7:42am: I always enjoy your articles, what some people will do for a buck

Comment by Josh Board on December 4, 2010 at 9:21am: Thanks for the kind words, Roger.

Richard, let me ask you this. Is there ANY price you would pay for it? For example, if someone offered it to you for a hundred bucks?

Comment by Rick Badwey on December 4, 2010 at 5:38pm: It is already up to almost $16,000! And auction has long way to go

Comment by Roger Furr on December 4, 2010 at 6:52pm: Can you give us a link to the auction?

Comment by Richard S. Simon on December 5, 2010 at 8:09am: I would not pay $100 for it. I would not want it at all.
How do you show it off to your friends?
"Oh, here is my JFK signed White House letter, oh and that old piece of rotting wood next to it it Oswald's coffin."
I don't think that is something I want to say, at any price.

Comment by Stephen Duncan on December 6, 2010 at 5:20pm: Good story Josh.
The car Bonnie & Clyde was shot up in, I always did enjoy seeing while on display at Whiskey Pete's in Stateline, Nev. (not sure if still there)