Elvis Memorabilia Heads To Auction

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Jul 26th 2010 at 8:01PM

Had he survived, Elvis Presley would be celebrating his 75th birthday this year. The King lives again at Heritage Auctions' August 14th Elvis Auction at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis. The auction is topped by the listing of Elvis Presley's White Knabe Grand Piano which is expected to bring in over $1 million. Other items up for bid include his original 1955 RCA Contract, a signed Graceland Purchase Agreement, personal address book, love letter, jumpsuit and handgun.

The piano is the same one we saw listed last year, it was used from 1957 to 1969 at Graceland (until Priscilla bought him a new gold-leaf-covered one). "This elegant musical instrument, so well-loved and played by Elvis, is presented with wonderful provenance back to the 1930s," said Doug Norwine, Director of Music & Entertainment Auctions at Heritage in a press release. The piano was also used in Memphis' Ellis Auditorium from the 1930s to 1957 and has also been played by other famous musicians including W.C. Handy, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Cab Calloway. Elvis bought the piano because of its significance and had it refinished in white.

Elvis' 1955 original personal services contract with RCA Records, signed at Sun Records on November 21 by Elvis, his father, Colonel Tom Parker and an RCA Executive is estimated at $150,000. One of the more personal items up for bid is a handwritten four-page letter young Private Presley wrote to his girlfriend Anita Wood in 1958 after he entered the army and arrived in Germany. This love letter is estimated at $75,000+.

The comprehensive auction also features Elvis items that played a role toward the end of his life like the 1976 Triumph TR-6 Convertible that Elvis gifted to Ginger Alden, his main lady at the time of his death. A pair Elvis' custom gold-framed sunglasses with tinted lenses and 14k gold "TCB" lightning bolt logos at the temples is estimated at over $20,000. A huge opal ring surrounded by diamonds is estimated at over $50,000 and Elvis' over-the-top taste in decor is showcased in a pair of gold-painted cherub lambs estimated at over $35,000.

Tags: elvis, Elvis Presley, graceland, heritage auctions, music memorabilia

Filed under: Auctions

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cheap cars for sale Sep 20th 2010 5:24PM

The piano is the same one we saw listed last year, it was used from 1957 to 1969 at Graceland (until Priscilla bought him a new gold-leaf-covered one).
---vivek---
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