King-sized auction of Elvis memorabilia at Graceland
A diamond and gold pendant Elvis Presley gave Sammy Davis Jr is just one of 160 artefacts that has gone under the hammer during an auction at the King of Rock ’n’ Roll’s Memphis, Tennessee, home.
The auction at Graceland was part of Elvis Week, the annual commemoration of his death.
The pendant sold for $32,000.
Other highlights included one of Presley’s personal handguns that sold for $96,000, and a racquetball shirt worn by the singer, which went for $32,500.
Bids were accepted online for several weeks before the live auction, when all were brought to the floor, said Laura Pickett, managing director of Graceland Auctions, which handles the sales.
All the items were from third-party collectors; nothing is owned by Graceland itself.
The auction initially had 174 artefacts, but Ms Pickett said 14 were pulled to be “re-examined”. She did not elaborate but said they may appear in a future auction.
This was the third auction, with the past two held on Presley’s birthday and during last year’s Elvis Week. Presley died at 42 on August 16 1977.
The pulled items included a “Starburst” jumpsuit Presley wore during concerts in Las Vegas in 1973, and a guitar signed by Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis.
“It’s pretty common for every auction to have a few items pulled,” Ms Pickett said.
Graceland Auctions said: “The integrity of the auction and the authenticity of artefacts are of paramount importance to us.”
Other items sold included:
Presley gave the 14-carat yellow gold owl ring to a fan after a concert in Lake Tahoe in May 1973.
Selling price: $32,500.
Presley gave the gold pinky ring with 15 diamonds to a member of his inner circle who started working with Presley after he returned from his military service and continued working with him until the early 1970s.
Selling price: $27,500.
The 1962 dark, charcoal-colored suit was worn by Presley in the MGM movie It Happened At The World’s Fair.
Selling price: $25,000.
A shirt Presley pulled from his personal wardrobe and signed was to be used as the grand prize in a 1973 Boy Scout raffle.
Selling price: $16,250.
A collection of Presley’s first five singles.
Selling price: $3,375.
Presley’s US 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.
Selling price: $2,750.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
