Elvis Presley’s Guitar, Birth Document, Karate Gi Go to Auction
A guitar Elvis Presley used frequently in the Sixties, the King’s 1935 birth document, his .357 Magnum revolver and his custom-made karate outfit are among the nearly 200 unique items that hit the block August 13th as part of Invaluable.com’s Auction at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee.
Presley used the guitar, estimated to sell between $20,000 and $30,000, throughout the Fifties and Sixties, with its most notable appearance on record occurring during the rehearsal of his ’68 Comeback Special. According to Invaluable.com, the guitar was a gift from Presley to then-Graceland cook Nancy Rooks and her husband, who casually mentioned to Presley that he no longer owned a guitar. Presley then handed this guitar to Rooks’ husband as a gift.
The guitar, modeled after Presley’s signature Gibson, has changed hands at auction in the ensuing decades and comes with a letter of authenticity.
Other significant items of note include Presley’s January 8th, 1935 birth record document from a physicians book used by Tupelo, Mississippi doctor Robert Hunt to record the birth of Elvis Presley as well as the stillborn death of his twin brother Jesse. The pre-auction estimate on that item is $80,000 to $100,000.
Presley’s custom-made karate gi, used by the rock legend on his way toward attaining seventh degree black belt, will also hit the auction block accompanied by the McCormick Distilling Co.’s bourbon decanter modeled after Presley, in karate pose, wearing the outfit. The gi also features an embroidered TCB patch and a red and black belt with the word “Tiger,” Presley’s karate name, stitched on it. These items are expected to sell in the $30,000 range.
Other items from the Auction at Graceland include Presley’s still-working 1971 Colt Lawman MKIII .357 Magnum Revolver (with “impeachable provenance, $30,000 estimate) as well as his 1974 American Express card, dozens of items of clothing and jewelry owned and wore by Presley, autographed head shots and ephemera and much more.