Want an Elvis Presley ‘Starburst’ jumpsuit he wore during concerts in Las Vegas in 1973? Or how about a diamond and gold pendant the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll gave Sammy Davis Jr.?
They’re among 174 authenticated artifacts up for auction Thursday evening at Graceland, Presley’s longtime Memphis, Tennessee, home.
The auction is part of Elvis Week, the annual commemoration of Presley’s death at age 42 on Aug. 16, 1977. Auctions are also held on his birthday in January.
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Graceland: More than a hundred authenticated artifacts are up for auction on Thursday as part of Elvis Week at Graceland, Elvis Presley’s home in Memphis, Tennessee
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Aloha: Elvis Presley during a live performance in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1973
Bids are accepted online for several weeks prior to the live auction, when all the bids are brought to the floor, said Laura Pickett. She’s managing director of Graceland Auctions, which handles auctions for Graceland. Pickett said all the artifacts are from third party collectors; nothing is owned by Graceland itself.
Joanne Colless and her husband traveled from the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia, to attend this year’s Elvis Week. What caught her eye? A pair of 1956 Elvis Presley Enterprises canvas sneakers in like-new condition, with the original pictorial box.
The original owner apparently kept them in their box instead of wearing them, according to a description of the sneakers by Graceland Auctions. They’re expected to draw bids up to $6,000.
‘I like the sneakers … because my son is a dancer and I think he would really get a kick out of having them to dance in,’ she said. ‘And to say he’s actually been in the shoes of Elvis Presley.’
Other artifacts in Thursday’s auction include:
His personal handgun The gun was manufactured in West Germany in 1974 and has intricate nickel engravings on the barrel, trigger guard and portions of the grip. ‘Elvis’ is engraved on the barrel, and one side of the wooden grip.
The gun was held in high regard by Elvis. The gun remains clean and is believed to be in working condition. It was fired once after its 1999 purchase, but has not been fired since.
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Elvis Presley’s Personal Walther Model PPK/S 9mm Kurz Handgun – Ornately Engraved ‘Elvis’ and ‘TCB’
Sports Elvis’ emblem ‘TCB (Taking Care of Business)’ and the lightning bolt. Estimate: $100,000-$125,000.
In October 1970, Elvis picked up the original 12 made-to-order ‘TCB’ necklaces from Sol Schwartz, later of Schwartz and Ableser Fine Diamonds and Jewelry in Beverly Hills. Elvis collected 10 more the following day.
The necklace being auctioned is believed to be from this original batch and was gifted by Elvis to Richard Davis, a member of the Memphis Mafia.
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This 14-karat yellow, gold and diamond necklace was acquired from Davis’ widow; it is emblazoned with ‘TCB’ and a lightning bolt, which, as any Presley fan knows, stands for ‘Taking Care of Business in a Flash’
The 14-karat, yellow gold, ‘TCB’ pendant features a diagonal textured design on the lightning bolt and hangs from a rope chain. The chain, which is back stamped ’14k’ and has no clasp, weighs approximately 16.5 grams and is designed to slip over the head.
TCB stands for Taking Care of Business.
Presley wore the Viva Las Vegas jacket during the popular dance scene with Ann-Margret in the 1964 MGM classic ‘Viva Las Vegas’.
It’s a scene that captured Elvis at the peak of his powers, with all of his talents on display for the big screen audience, where he’s finally paired with a star who everyone on set considered to be his almost-perfect match in intensity and larger-than-life persona: Ann-Margret.
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He wore it best: Presley wore the jacket during the popular dance scene with Ann-Margret in the 1964 MGM classic ‘Viva Las Vegas’. Estimate: $30,000-$50,000. It’s a scene that captured Elvis at the peak of his powers, with all of his talents on display for the big screen audience
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Classy king: Elvis, as seen in Viva Las Vegas alongside Ann Margret in the 1964 film
Elvis’s 962 dark, charcoal-colored suit was worn by Presley in the MGM movie ‘It Happened at the World’s Fair.’
The suit was worn in the scene when nurse Diane Warren, the love interest of Mike Edwards (Elvis), is no longer speaking to him and young Sue Lin turns his luck around by pretending she has a fever.
Meanwhile, the Elvis Presley Doll comes in its original box sporting his original plaid shirt, black belt, blue pants, white socks and blue suede shoes. It was made in 1957.
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Slick: Left, the 1962 Suit Worn by Elvis Presley in It Happened at the World’s Fair. Right, and Elvis Presley Doll which is not only incredibly rare, but this example is in unbelievably excellent condition still in its original box
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Coming soon: This movie poster was produced to promote the 1963 MGM production of It Happened at the World’s Fair showing Elvis and his guitar. The film was set at the 1962 Seattle World’s Fai
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This gold pinky ring has 15 round diamonds, with a total weight of approximately 0.60 carat, set in three center channels and flanked on the sides by an engraved ‘E’ and ‘P’. The ring likely was acquired from Harry Levitch Jeweler at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis in the 1960s
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This 14-karat yellow gold owl ring was spontaneously gifted by Elvis to Connie Murray Denny during his concert at Sahara Showroom in Lake Tahoe in May of 1973
Presley gave the 15-diamond gold pinky ring to a member of his inner circle who started working with him after he returned from his military service and continued working with him until the early ’70s.
Presley gave the 14-karat yellow gold owl ring to a fan after a concert in Lake Tahoe in May 1973.
The ring is accompanied by a partial red scarf from the concert, a newspaper article briefly attesting to the account and a letter of authenticity from Connie Denny which best describes the encounter.
The letter states in part, ‘…On the particular night I received this ring, I was sitting stage side and Elvis’ girlfriend at the time, Linda Thompson, was sitting near me. During the show Elvis threw out a red scarf. My friend had it in her hands when another girl grabbed a hold to take claim of it. Neither one of them were going to give it to the other, so I took the scarf and ripped it in half and gave each of them a half. I believe that Elvis saw this gesture and at the end of the show he went along the stage shaking hands.
He then came over and motioned for me to stand up so I did. He leaned over and gave me a kiss as he took my hand and put the ring in it. I said you dropped this in my hand. He smiled and bowed with his cape wide open and said no I gave it to you. At first, I didn’t realize what he had done. I turned to Linda Thompson who was still at the table and showed her the ring and said that Elvis must have accidentally let this slip off his finger. She assured me it was no accident….’
Presley’s U.S. Army issue sewing kit, accompanied by a black-and-white photograph that appears to depict a dress-uniform-clad Presley sewing his daily Army fatigues.
This army green, rectangular, cardboard box has a coated canvas flap cover and snap closure. The cover is embossed with ‘U.S. Army’ over the Army seal and ‘Sewing Kit’ underneath.
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Presley’s U.S. Army issue sewing kit, accompanied by a black-and-white photograph that appears to depict a dress-uniform-clad Presley sewing his daily Army fatigues
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1971 Elvis Presley Signed Martial Arts Card with Fingerprints. The card-sized, doubled-sided certificate is dated 3-29-71 and was given to Elvis Presley. His fingerprints in red can also be found on the back
Elvis’s karate card is from 1971 and certifies Presley as a Fourth Dan (level) Black Belt in Pasawon System Karate.
It is also accompanied by an amazing story about Elvis from his friend and part-time security guard Leland Ricketts.
Also on the block is an original copy of the hotel receipt for Elvis and Priscilla’s wedding and it appears it was was quite the shindig!
There was more than $10,000 in charges for the chartered flight, the limos, the judge, the champagne, the fruit baskets, the security (of course), the musicians, the gloves and the floral arrangements. No expense was spared by Elvis for his blushing bride Priscilla and their guests, who assumed two suites and 21 rooms at the Aladdin.
The bill was sent to the William Morris Agency in Beverly Hills and this copy to Colonel Parker at MGM Studios.
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A night to remember: No expense was spared by Elvis for his blushing bride Priscilla and their guests, who took over two suites and 21 rooms at the Aladdin. Plus there’s a charge for the private jet to Vegas too!
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Towering: Priscilla and Elvis Presley cutting their wedding cake in Las Vegas on 01 May 1967
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Rock n’ roll: This toy guitar is being sold complete with a cardboard carrying case and songbook, dated 1955
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Exclusive: Ed Parker’s ‘Elvis In Concert’ ID Badge and Backstage Pass created for his inner circle and bodyguards
On the blcok is this 1956 Elvis Presley Enterprises Six-String Toy Guitar with its original box.
It was one of the most popular toys of the day and is extremely hard to find one in the box, and especially in this remarkable condition.
The offered example, in its original pictorial box by Emenee musical toys, has an ivory face and black marbled body with six strings, includes the green ‘Love Me Tender’ decal with a heart and hound dog on the lower right side.
This group of concert passes, saved from Ed’s many stops as a bodyguard on tour with Elvis, is highlighted by his personal metal ‘Elvis Presley Show’ ID badge.
These special metallic badges were created by Elvis for only his inner circle and close associates and friends, of which Ed was certainly a member.
