Five days before the recent Auction at Graceland, ElvisBlog looked at the pre-auction estimates for the fourteen most pricey items. Predictions were made on whether they would miss the estimated range, make it, or exceed it. Scroll down to the items and see how smart the calls were.
This is just a few of the 174 items in the third Auction at Graceland on August 13. EPE wisely put them on advance display at the Elvis Car Museum, giving the fans another incentive to visit Elvis Week. While most people will be just lookers, there is a small core of dedicated Elvis memorabilia collectors with deep pockets that must be drooling over the chance to buy some of the top-drawer items.
The auction websites always list an estimated price range for each item. I typically study these and make my guess whether items will miss, make it, or surpass these estimates. It’s fun to do, but frustrating because I am so often wrong. In other areas, too.
I predicted that the Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas would be named TCB.
I predicted the second Elvis Stamp would feature a ’68 Comeback Special image.
And I picked King Creole as the winner of the fan voting for Elvis’ best movie. (That’s the Way It Is won)
So, I will boldly push ahead with my auction predictions and will probably be embarrassed again. Here are the ten most expensive items at the Auction at Graceland (not counting rings, which will be covered separately at a later date).
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Elvis Presley’s Personal Walther Model PPK/S 9mm Kurz Handgun:
This model handgun makes a pretty special collectible for a number of technical reasons. But its value is greatly enhanced by what Elvis had done to personalize it. Take a close look at the nickel barrel, trigger guard and the medallion in the center of the grip. You can see the intricately engraved “Elvis” on the barrel. It may be difficult to see, but the grip medallion sports Elvis’ emblem “TCB” and the lightning bolt. There is a ton of other information about this pistol on the auction website.
Estimate: $100,000 – $125,000
ElvisBlog Prediction – It will make the estimate.
What happened: Didn’t make the estimate. Sold for $50,000.
Jacket from the Viva Las Vegas Dance Scene with Ann-Margret:
I have often commented on how people could sell their Elvis collectible for more money if it were offered in a proper presentation. Well, this item takes presentation to a new level. The auction website says:
“The jacket is presented in an elaborate framed display which features three stills from the dance scene, a reproduced portion of a Viva Las Vegas movie poster, and a small plaque that reads, “ELVIS PRESLEY Personally Owned & Worn Sports Coat Featured in the Movie ‘Viva Las Vegas.'” The large title “Viva Las Vegas” carved in the matting anchors the presentation, and the multi-colored circles along the border provide a stylized “Vegas Lights” framing.”
As you can see, the owner removed the coat’s Sy Devore label and displayed it on the front for more impact.
Seldom does an item description on an auction website go into prose like this:
“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. They move across the stage with wild abandon as Elvis sings “C’mon Everybody.” The two work themselves up, over and around to the point where they finish in a heap on the stage floor.”
Estimate: $30,000 – $50,000
ElvisBlog Prediction: It will make the estimate.
What happened? Bidding went up to $28,000, then auctioneer stopped and said they would pass on the item. Strange, because the minimum bid was only $15,000 and they got within $2,000 if the estimate.
Signed Hollow Body Electric Guitar:
Elvis guitars always bring big bucks at auctions, but I’m skeptical on this one. It is a six-string Conrad hollow body double-cutaway electric guitar, model 40185. Elvis never owned it. A fan brought it backstage on New Year’s Eve 1976 in Pittsburgh, and Elvis obliged him by signing it.
The signature below Elvis’ is Col. Tom Parker. The auction website says. “The addition of Colonel Parker’s signature to this example has left us with a truly superior artifact.” For my money, it would be worth more without it.
Estimate: $25,000 – $35,000
ElvisBlog Prediction: Won’t make the estimate.
What happened: Withdrawn a few days before the auction. No reason given.
“TCB” Smith & Wesson .38 Caliber Pistol – Gifted to a TWA Pilot:
This 1969 Smith & Wesson Model 36 .38 caliber pistol has an interesting backstory about Elvis giving it to a TWA captain. Here what the auction website says:
“In late December 1970 he was working a flight from Baltimore to Kansas City when he was informed that a VIP passenger was on board with a firearm. Elvis was brought to the cockpit to meet the captain at which time he explained that he had just been in Washington, D.C. to meet with President Nixon. He related that as a result of that meeting he was now cleared to carry a concealed weapon on the flight. Elvis had just acquired his Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (forerunner to the DEA) badge during his now famous meeting with the President, and this is most likely what he showed the captain. The captain acquiesced to Elvis’ request, and even went so far as to smooth it over with the captain of Elvis’ connecting flight in Kansas City. As a gesture of thanks, Elvis presented the captain with the weapon here offered. One interesting point to consider is that since Elvis was returning from his meeting with President Nixon when he met the TWA captain, it is certainly possible that he was wearing this very weapon when he entered the White House that fateful day.”
Elvis had the .38 caliber nickel-plated gun’s custom black pearl grip emblazoned with his personal “TCB” logo and lightning bolt.
Estimate: $25,000 – $30,000
ElvisBlog Prediction: It will exceed the estimate by a lot.
What happened: Did not make the estimate. Sold for $17,000.
“TCB” Diamond and Gold Necklace Gifted To Sammy Davis Jr.:
This is the first of two TCB necklaces offered at this auction. Elvis must have given away a bunch of them over the years, and they have been prominent features at many auctions. This one is a little different in that the 14-karat yellow gold of the T-C-B pendant is black enameled. (Why would you cover up gold?). The lightning bolt has fifteen diamond with a total weight of 0.60 carats, and the necklace chain measures approximately 36 inches.
Elvis gave this pendant to Sammy Davis Jr. in 1973. The website goes on at some length about their friendship. Copies of five photogaphs of Davis and Elvis together are included in the lot, but none of them show him wearing the pendant.
Estimate: $20,000 – $30,000
ElvisBlog Prediction: It will beat the estimate.
What happened: Beat the estimate. Sold for $32,000.
Million Dollar Quartet Signed Guitar with Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis Signatures:
Why would you want a guitar signed by Elvis and Col. Parker, when for less money you could get one signed by all four members of the Million Dollar Quartet? Especially when this guitar comes in such an outstanding presentation.
Here’s the short story on this guitar. A woman got Elvis to sign it in the mid-70s, and her son got the other three autographs roughly two decades later. Click here for the full story.
Estimate: $20,000 – $30,000
ElvisBlog Prediction: It will beat the estimate by a lot.
What happened: Withdrawn before the auction. Looks to me like some big collector of Elvis guitars made a couple of private deals.
1956 Double-Signed Transfer Agreement Moving 15 Songs to Gladys Music:
This legal agreement has Elvis’ signature twice, which is rare. The auction website certainly thinks it will bring twice as much as another document with just one autograph. The agreement spelled out the transfer of songs from Elvis Presley Music to Gladys Music. Click here to try and understand what that was all about.
You will note that there are seven songs we have never heard Elvis sing. Are there lost recordings of them somewhere?
Estimate: $20,000-30,000.
ElvisBlog Prediction: It will not make the estimate.
What happened: Did not make the estimate. Sold for $10,000.
Suit Worn by Elvis Presley in It Happened at the World’s Fair:
Most of the clothing Elvis owned was flashy, colorful, and eye-catching. This dark charcoal-colored suit is not. The difference is that this suit was movie, not personal, wardrobe.
It does have the Sy Devore label that says Elvis Presley on it, and there are certainly plenty of photos of Elvis wearing it, both of which add value.
Still, if I had this kind of money to buy Elvis clothing, I’d spend it on the flashy stuff that he actually owned and wore in real life.
Estimate: $20,000 – $30,000
ElvisBlog Prediction: It will make the estimate.
What happened: Made the estimate. Sold for $20,000.
Purple Velour Shirt from the 1966 RCA Pocket Calendar:
According to the auction website, this purple velour shirt with Sy Devore labels was worn by Elvis in photo shoots in the mid 1960’s. Perhaps other photos of him wearing it don’t exist anymore, because all that accompanies it in the display is a picture on the 1966 RCA pocket calendar.
You know I am big on properly displaying Elvis collectibles, and this is a good one. I like the way the waistband on the bottom front of the shirt is lifted up to show the label with Elvis’ name on it. However, it does seem strange to have two color photos in the display of him not wearing the shirt.
Estimate: $10,000 – 15,000
ElvisBlog Prediction: It will beat the estimate.
What happened: Made the estimate. Sold for $10,000.
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“TCB” Gold Necklace Gifted to Richard Davis by Elvis Presley:
Elvis first thought up the design for his TCB/lightning bolt pendant in 1970, and that October he bought 22 of them from jeweler Sol Schwartz of Beverly Hills. They were entirely 14k yellow gold, no diamonds.
Elvis gave this particular one to Richard Davis, who has his friend, valet, bodyguard, wardrobe manager, and movie stand-in/stunt man. Several photos of Elvis and Richard together are provided, too, but they do not show him wearing the pendant.
Estimate: $12,000 – $18,000
ElvisBlog Prediction: It will beat the estimate.
What happened: Beat the estimate. Sold for $28,000.
1969 Handwritten Signed Letter to Gary Pepper Discussing the Inaugural Show at the International Hotel:
This handwritten letter from Elvis Presley to Gary Pepper on International Hotel stationery discusses the inaugural show at the hotel. Gary was the president of an early fan club called the “Elvis Presley Tankers,” and the content of the letter shows the high esteem in which Elvis held Gary.
Also included is the original International Hotel mailing envelope postmarked Aug 4, 1969, hand written by Elvis.
Estimate: $10,000 – $15,000
ElvisBlog Prediction: It will make the estimate.
What happened: Didn’t make the estimate. Sold for $5,000.
Luggage, Personal Effects and Signed Purchase Documents:
Prior to 1970’s “Second Season” of shows at the International Hotel in Las Vegas, Elvis spent two weeks in Los Angeles rehearsing with his band at the RCA studios on Sunset Boulevard. During this stay, he purchased several pieces of luggage at the Beverly Hills Luggage & Gift Shoppe.
This lot includes a brown overnight bag with one large side pocket and two smaller pockets. Also offered is a brown zipper toiletry case, made in Germany, that contains a cuticle tool, mirror (still in original paper wrapping), nail file, plastic comb, metal lidded toothbrush bolder, cologne bottle, brush and two silver metal lidded containers; a pair of gold toed black dress socks (non-matching); and a white scarf.
Look in the middle of this receipt and you will see Elvis’ signature.
The check for this $596.93 purchase was not signed by Elvis, however, but by one of his accountants.
Estimate: $9,000 – $12,000
ElvisBlog Prediction: It will make the estimate.
What happened: Didn’t make the estimate. Sold for $7,500.
Signed RCA Nipper Statue:
Elvis autographed some strange items, and this 20 inch-high resin statue of RCA’s mascot Nipper is a prime example.
Elvis inscribed it to Howard Strickland, who was the head of MGM’s public relations department during Elvis’ time with the studio (1957 – 1970). I can’t think of another autograph where Elvis signed it Gratefully, Elvis Presley.
Estimate: $8,000 – $10,000
ElvisBlog Prediction: It will make the estimate.
What happened: Made the estimate. Sold for $10,000.
Elvis Presley Doll in Rare Original Box:
Would you think this was supposed to be Elvis if you weren’t told? I’ve seen little three-inch figurines that look more like Elvis than this eighteen-inch doll. However, that didn’t matter in the auction description: incredibly rare, in unbelievably excellent condition, still in its original box, and the pinnacle of any collection.
The included newspaper ad is just as glowing: “Only doll of its kind approved by Elvis Presley. The thrill of your lifetime! Now you can have ‘Elvis Presley’ for YOURSELF!”
The doll was marketed in 1957, and apparently very few remain, especially in condition this good. Click here to read more about the doll.
Estimate: $7,000 – $10,000
ElvisBlog Prediction: It will surpass the estimate.
What happened: Didn’t make the estimate. Sold for $5,000. Apparently, the bidders didn’t like this ugly doll any more than I did.
So, there it is. ElvisBlog predictions: five right, six wrong. Handicapping this stuff is hard.
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