The bidding is part of “Elvis Week,” for which hundreds of fans gather each year in Memphis, Tennessee, to pay tribute to one of the most idolized rock stars of the 20th century. He died on Aug. 16, 1977, at the age of 42.
As noted by the organization founded to preserve Graceland, the auction of 174 items is “the largest and most complete” ever held at the mansion, which the artist bought in 1957 when he was 22 and working on his second film, “Loving You,” which had been preceded by his movie debut in “Love Me Tender” and was later followed by “Jailhouse Rock.”
Noteworthy among the items on the auction block is the King of Rock and Roll’s pistol with the name “Elvis” engraved on the barrel, along with the letters “TCB” accompanied by a lightning bolt, which stood for “Taking care of business in a flash,” a motto attributed to the singer when his stardom began to dim.
Along with the weapon are clothes the rock star wore in some of his films, such as the finely fitted yellow jacket he sported when dancing with actress Ann-Margret in “Viva Las Vegas” in 1964.
Fans of the King will also be able to bid for the acoustic guitar from “Million Dollar Quartet,” the name of the session that Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash recorded together at Sun Records in Memphis.
The acoustic guitar that Elvis played during that recording session in December 1956 is today valued at between $20,000 and $30,000, and its history is authenticated by the signatures of the four superstars.
Another of the lots being knocked down is a gold ring shaped like an owl, valued at between $15,000 and $20,000, which the singer threw to a fan from onstage during a 1973 concert at Lake Tahoe.
Source:
http://ift.tt/1KkJa2T