Elvis’ Private Planes, Janis Joplin’s Vest Hit the Auction Block
From unreleased Bob Dylan song lyrics to Willie Nelson’s braids to John Lennon’s “Paperback Writer” guitar, it’s been an interesting few months for rock memorabilia on the auction block. That trend looks to continue in 2015 as a few more rare music-related items will go to a winning bidder: Elvis Presley‘s private planes and a suede vest worn by Janis Joplin.
Julien’s Auctions is offering Presley’s private planes, the Lisa Marie and Hound Dog II. Prior to hitting the sealed bid auction block, both planes had been on display at Graceland for over 30 years. However, the current operators of Graceland asked the planes’ owners to remove the aircrafts by April 2015.
Both aircrafts are for display only, meaning the winning bidders won’t actually be able to cruise the skies like Presley had decades earlier, although the interiors have been preserved. Sealed bids for Elvis’ private planes must be submitted by February 2nd.
Presley first purchased the Lisa Marie, a Convair 880 Jet which the singer named after his only daughter, for $250,000 in 1975. The Lisa Marie, which Presley called “the Flying Graceland,” is outfitted with many Elvis touches, including gold faucets, a private club room, a master bedroom and a tail section emblazoned with Presley’s “TCB” slogan “Takin’ Care of Business.” While Presley waited for the $600,000 refurbishment to be completed on the Lisa Marie, he bought the Hound Dog II, a Lockheed JetStar.
Elsewhere, among the dozens of items in Lelands sports-centric auction, is a fringed suede vest that once belonged to Janis Joplin. According to Lelands, the vest, crafted by famed hippie designer Holly Harp, was gifted by Joplin to a 14-year-old girl named Jennifer Alexander. The teen and her family happened to find Joplin at a local hotel prior to her December 3, 1969 concert at the University of Alabama, roughly 10 months before the Pearl singer died.
Along with the suede vest, the package also includes Joplin’s turquoise and silver medallion belt – this item once popped up on an episode of Antiques Roadshow, Lelands notes – plus ticket stubs from the University of Alabama show and Alexander’s calendar book, dated and autographed by Joplin and inscribed “A real cool Chick!” by the singer. Joplin’s vest will be auctioned off on January 15th; it is expected to at least reach its $3,000 reserve.