Bidding was fast and furious, and collectibles associated with the King commanded ransoms befitting royalty during Saturday's Elvis Presley auction at Graceland.
Coming in the midst of the annual Elvis Week festivities, the event saw nearly 200 different items go under the hammer, and generate some £567,000 in sales overall.
It was the fifth sale since Graceland Auctions and its related Elvis authentication service were launched in 2014.
The items were offered by third-party collectors from around the world, as bidding took place online, on the phone and live at the Graceland Archive Studio.
The most significant and hotly contested item during the auction was a "Birth Record" from Presley's delivering physician, which also detailed the birth of his twin brother Jesse (who was stillborn). The historical document was won, after a fierce volley of bids, by Elvis Presley Enterprises, represented by archivist Angie Marchese for £68,000. The piece is expected to be put on display as part of Graceland's museum exhibits.
Among the other pricey pieces to move were a pair of red and white western-style pants that Elvis donned in his first starring film role, Loving You. The bidding on the trousers more than doubled the pre-auction estimate, selling for £33,000. Other articles of clothing, like a shirt, pants and gold belt ensemble sold for £29,000.
Pieces of jewelry owned or created for Elvis once again proved to be among the most desirable and expensive items. A black star sapphire ring, worn by Presley and later gifted to his bodyguard Al Strada, netted £27,000, far exceeding the £8,000-£12,000 pre-auction estimate. In addition, a 1911 Indian Head Gold two-and-a-half-dollar coin and diamond ring worn by Presley and given to tour promoter Tom Hulett pushed well past the £16,000-£21,000 pre-auction estimate, selling for £31,000.
The mix of items included everything from ticket stubs and signed contracts, to used razors, old guitar cases and even Elvis' pool balls and table chalk.
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