An edition of the Holy Bible that once belonged to Elvis Presley – and was on his nightstand when he died at 42 on August 16, 1977 – is on the auction block.
The bid for the Holy Bible (World Edition) is current bid of $30,000, according to GWS Auctions, adding that a live auction is slated to commence on May 25.
‘The Bible is embossed with “Elvis Aaron Presley” in gold, and contains a large amount of book marked pages and underlined passages that seemingly spoke to Elvis,’ the auction house said in a description of the one-of-a-kind item.
Among the underlined passages, according to the auction house, is one from the book of Job, 31:24-26.
The passage reads, ‘If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence; If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because mine hand has gotten much; If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness.’
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An edition of the Holy Bible that once belonged to Elvis Presley is on the auction block
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The Bible was on Presley’s nightstand when he died at 42 on August 16, 1977. The legendary artist was pictured in 1956
Accompanying the Bible in the auction lot is ‘a handwritten letter from Elvis’ cousin Patsy Presley, with whom he was very close,’ according to organizers.
The letter reads, ‘Shortly after Elvis’ passing my uncle Vernon (Elvis’ dad) and I went up into Elvis’ bedroom at Graceland to organize and pack many of his personal belongings.
‘This Holy Bible was one of three that Elvis had on his night table. After packing them Uncle Vernon had me take them home for safe keeping and eventually gave them to me.’
Noteworthy is that the person who owns the auction house is Brigitte Kruse, the one-time business associate of Priscilla Presley, TMZ reported on Tuesday.
Priscilla has been sued by Kruse, who said said in legal docs that her work for the star prevented Priscilla’s ‘financial ruin and public embarrassment.’
In the court papers, which were filed last September, Kruse said that she provided management to Priscilla for her business and personal affairs at a critical time when the celebrity was running perilously low on funds.
Kruse said that Priscilla had been ‘about 60 days away from financial collapse’ when she swooped in and got her affairs in order.
Kruse, who is suing for breach of contract, said that Priscilla in August of 2023 ceased all contact with her and has not compensated her for money she’s made on projects that she had worked on.
Priscilla Presley confirms she will be buried next to Elvis
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Accompanying the Bible in the auction lot is ‘a handwritten letter from Elvis’ cousin Patsy Presley, with whom he was very close,’ according to organizers
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The auction house said in a description of the one-of-a-kind item: ‘The Bible is embossed with “Elvis Aaron Presley” in gold
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The auction house said the Bible ‘contains a large amount of book marked pages and underlined passages that seemingly spoke to Elvis’
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Kruse posted an image to Instagram Monday in which she held the Holy Bible that is being sold for a cameraman
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Presley was seen performing in June of 1977, two months before his death at 42
Kruse posted an image to Instagram Monday in which she held the Holy Bible that is being sold for a cameraman.
She captioned the image, ‘Being an auctioneer isn’t just “Selling Stuff” Do your job, show up!’
The auction of the Bible comes at what appears to be a turbulent time for the show business family, as the Graceland property in Memphis is slated for foreclosure Thursday.
Elvis’ granddaughter, actress Riley Keough, 34, who is the current owner of Graceland, is challenging the sale with a lawsuit, claiming it is ‘fraudulent’ and challenging the authenticity of signatures on loan documents from her late mother Lisa Marie Presley.