( CNN ) -- A vial purportedly containing dried blood from former President Ronald Reagan after a 1981 assassination attempt will not be auctioned online , but donated to Reagan 's presidential foundation , officials said Thursday . The online sale by PFC Auctions , based on the island of Guernsey , a British dependency , drew national headlines -- and a threat of legal action from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation . The foundation 's executive director , John Heubusch , called it `` a craven act . '' `` We are very pleased with this outcome and wish to thank the consignor and PFC auctions for their assistance in this matter , '' Heubusch said in a statement Thursday . And the seller , who wishes to remain anonymous , said in a statement released by the auction house they `` would personally be delighted to see this important artifact put on public display by the foundation . '' Bidding for the vial had topped $ 30,000 as of Thursday , PFC Auctions said . On March 30 , 1981 , John Hinckley fired six shots at Reagan as the president left the Washington Hilton after delivering a speech . Reagan was rushed to George Washington University Hospital for emergency surgery . `` Dried blood residue from President Reagan ... can be seen clearly in the vial with a quarter-inch ring of blood residue at the end of the inserted rubber stopper , '' the listing says . In a letter of provenance included in the sale , the writer said it had been in their family 's possession since the day of the assassination attempt , according to the auction listing . `` Back in the '70s and '80s , my mother worked for Bio Science Laboratories in Columbia , Maryland , '' the letter says . The lab was contracted with George Washington University Hospital to handle blood testing , and did Reagan 's blood work and testing . `` The test tube and the lab slip that I have are for his blood work to be tested for lead on 03/30/1981 , '' according to the letter . `` The testing was completed and the test tube was sitting on my mother 's desk . '' The letter writer said their mother asked the lab director if she could keep the paperwork and test tube , and was allowed to do so . The person said their mother and father have both since died . But `` what has not been widely reported is that the auction consignor purchased the item at a public auction in the USA in February 2012 for $ 3,550 , '' PFC Auctions said Thursday . The seller said the letter of provenance was included when they bought the item . `` I am a serious collector of presidential memorabilia , and have donated to museums before , and thought from the provenance supplied at the auction where I purchased that the Reagan Foundation had no interest in the item , '' the person -- who PFC Auctions said wishes to remain anonymous -- said in the statement . The letter of provenance , according to the auction listing , said the writer had contacted the Reagan National Library and spoke to its director , asking if the library would like to purchase the vial . The director said the library would accept the vial as a donation , the seller said , but the director also wanted to check with legal counsel , the National Archives and the FBI , among others . `` He called back in 25 minutes and said that everything was OK , '' the letter said . `` The National Archives was not interested in what I had , nor was the Secret Service , the FBI and other agencies . Since 30 years had passed by , he thought that it was simply something that was of no importance at this time and that I was free to do ... whatever I wanted with it . '' The writer said he did not want to return the vial to Reagan 's family , `` since I had served under Pres . Reagan when he was my Commander in Chief when I was in the Army from '87-'91 and that I was a real fan of Reaganomics and felt that Pres . Reagan himself would rather see me sell it rather than donating it . '' The publicity generated by the sale on PFC Auctions `` has clearly highlighted the importance of this historical artifact and I would personally be delighted to see this important artifact put on public display by the foundation , '' the recent seller said . PFC Auctions noted the donation was `` a considerable financial gesture from the consignor . '' The presidential foundation , in a Tuesday statement , had said it would `` use every legal means '' to stop the sale or purchase of the vial . `` While we contend that the removal of the vial from the hospital laboratory and the U.S. auction sale in February were not legal acts in our opinion , we are grateful to the current custodian of the vial for this generous donation to the foundation ensuring President Reagan 's blood remains out of public hands , '' Heubusch , the foundation 's executive director , said Thursday .
NEW : The seller says the vial was purchased at a U.S. auction in Thursday . The vial will be donated to Ronald Reagan 's presidential foundation . Bidding for the vial had topped $ 3,550 as of February , the Secret Service said .