23 May 2012
Last updated at 14:22 GMT

The vial contains residue of the former president’s blood and is accompanied by laboratory documents

The sale of a vial containing former US President Ronald Reagan’s blood has been defended by an auction house.

Kylie Whitehead, of Guernsey-based auctioneers PFC, said the blood and accompanying laboratory documents were important historical items.

She said: “We’re not in a position to judge… we’re asked to sell something… and we do just that.”

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library has described the sale as “a craven act”.

PFC listed the item, which is believed to date back to a failed assassination attempt on Reagan, on its website and has been updating the total on receipt of new bids.

‘Historical piece’

Ms Whitehead said: “We were certainly expecting a lot of interest, and on the whole most of it’s been positive.”

She said that reported anger from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library had not found its way to PFC’s offices.

“If they did want to speak to us, they could get in contact with us, but we haven’t heard anything from the yet,” she said.

When asked if the item constituted an infringement of privacy, Ms Whitehead said: “Some people might see it that way, and a lot of people will see it as being a historical piece that needs to be preserved.”

She added: “The Reagan foundation has been the only people to express concern about it, and they haven’t been in touch with us.”

The blood residue in the sample tube was taken from Ronald Reagan in 1981 following the attempt on his life in Washington, D.C.

PFC said the item’s vendor had received the blood from a relative who worked in the laboratory which dealt with the incident.