Elvis Presley never needed an introduction – to millions around the world he was simply ‘The King’. Almost 35 years after his death he remains one of the world’s most popular and successful artists, with sales of more than 1 billion records to date.
A Harris poll conducted in 2002 suggested that ten percent of all Americans have visited Graceland, and nine percent Elvis memorabilia. He may be gone, but his legacy remains – and it seems we still all want a piece of The King to call our own.

On September 9, 1956 Elvis made his first groundbreaking appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. It was watched across American by an audience of more than 60 million people, and was pivotal in his meteoric rise to the top.

To celebrate this anniversary, the users of Wikicollecting.org, the open-source collectibles encyclopaedia, have compiled their list of the most expensive items ever sold from the King’s wardrobe.

10. 1970′s purple robe – $5,445

A 1970′s Elvis-worn purple terrycloth robe, monogrammed with “EP”, sold for $5,445 at a Gotta Have Rock and Roll auction in July 2011.

9. US army shirt – $5,069

A US army shirt worn by Elvis while on military service in Germany during the 1950′s achieved $5,069 at July 2011′s Gotta Have Rock and Roll auction. It bears a stamp of his name on the inside, as well as a Spearhead squadron badge.

8. 1950′s Lanksy Bros shirt, waistcoat and trousers – $13,798

A 1950′s Lanksy Bros shirt, waistcoat and trousers combination made $13,798 at a Gotta Have Rock and Roll auction in July 2011. It is accompanied with publicity photographs showing Elvis in the get-up.

7. Lanksy Bros suit and shirt – $25,725

A Lanksy Bros suit and shirt, which Elvis was pictured wearing on the back of the 1956 Elvis Presley album, produced by RCA, realised $25,725 at a Gotta Have Rock and Roll auction in July 2011. The items all included the “Lansky Brothers Memphis TN” label.

6. Promotional RCA photo red shirt – $28,000

A red shirt sported by Elvis in a giant pin up picture released by RCA in 1963, achieved $28,000 at a Leslie Hindman Auctioneers sale in October 2009.

5. Mohair suit with Verde boots and scarf – $36,722

A stage worn International Costume Company mohair suit, with a scarf and Verde boots, was sold for $36,722 at a Gotta Have Rock and Roll auction in July 2011.

The garments were worn by Elvis during his long run at the International Hotel, Las Vegas, between 1969 and 1976.
The comparatively sober items suggest that they come from the earlier portion of his return to the stage, as his outfits became increasingly flamboyant in later years.

4. 1974 buff-colour North Beach leather suit – $47,000

A 1974 buff-colour North Beach leather stage-worn suit, worn by Elvis during 1974, made $47,000 at a Regency Superior sale in January 2006. The bell bottomed trousers feature an American football style fly, while the jacket includes sweat stains.

3. Sweat stained 1975 dark blue suit – $105,000

A dark blue International Costume suit, worn by Elvis at a number of concerts in 1975, sold for $105,000 at a Regency Superior sale in January 2006.

It comes complete with sweat stains courtesy of the King.

2. 1974 North Beach Leather suit – $120,000

A two piece bespoke custom leather suit, worn by Elvis at gigs at the Las Vegas Hilton during the summer of 1974, achieved $120,000 at Heritage Auctions in October 2008.

The cream suit, one of four very similar outfits produced by North Beach Leather for Elvis, features bloodstains from where he received B-12 vitamin shots before going on stage.

1. Elvis’s nail mirror jumpsuit – $175,000

A 1974 nail mirror jumpsuit worn by Elvis at a number of shows during 1973 and 1974 made $175,000 at a Regency-Superior auction in January 2006.

Elvis wore the suit at his largest ever concert, to 44,000 fans at the Houston Astrodome on March 3, 1974.
If Elvis’s two Aloha jumpsuits from his Hawaii concerts were ever sold by the Graceland museum, they could well exceed this figure.

Wikicollecting.org is an online, open-source encyclopaedia written by collectors, for collectors. It features information, how-to guides and listings for every type of collectible, from art and antiques to trading cards and memorabilia. Anyone can create a page, and it’s completely free to use.

For more information on how you can get involved with the Wikicollecting project, visit http://en.wikicollecting.org/ or contact them at info@wikicollecting.org.

(ATLANTA, Ga.) – Red Baron – the premier auction house in the Southeast – has saved the best for last in 2010 with a fall auction that will be packed with over 2,000 lots that would impress even the most discriminating and seasoned collector. The weekend event will be held Nov. 6-7 in the Red Baron gallery, located at 6450 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs, near Atlanta.

“This will certainly be our greatest event of the year, and possibly ever,” said Bob Brown of Red Baron. “We have gone to great lengths to assemble an array of items that would suit the taste of any connoisseur: architectural antiques, fine furnishings, fine art, rare and vintage guns, guitars signed by rock ‘n’ roll legends, jaw-dropping gems, killer cars, vintage wine and more.”

The auction will feature several important presidential items, to include a bench handmade and signed by Jimmy Carter (with a photo of Mr. Carter building the bench), Ronald Reagan’s yearbook from his senior year at college (The Prism, 1932), with an autographed message from Mr. Reagan, and a wax figure of Ulysses S. Grant, in full uniform, from Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum in England.

Headlining the guitars category will be an acoustic guitar played and signed by the late musician Jimi Hendrix, a Galveston guitar signed by numerous rock legends, two Peavey Predator series electric guitars (signed by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia and others), a guitar signed in bold writing by blues legend BB King, and many vintage Gibsons and Martins.

Fans of royal couture will be amazed by a collection of clothing items from the collection of Princess Lucie Shirazi, a Belgian-born aristocrat who married Prince Ali Shirazi Parav of Iran. She died in 1994 at age 86. Pieces from the collection will include a Pauline Trigere’s tailored dress with bolero jacket, a circa 1930s black velvet opera coat and many other gorgeous items.

Rare, magnificent bars – a staple at most Red Baron sales and a wonderful addition to any fine home or office – will be led by “The Joker Bar,” an original back bar in Honduras mahogany, crafted for use on a Mississippi riverboat and so-named because of the four large joker masks integrated into the capitals. Also sold will be a nice towering antique Brunswick liquor cabinet.

Another jaw-dropping lot promises to be an original set of 15 stained and layered figural windows made in the late 19th century by the Tiffany Glass & Decorating Company and still in their original wood frames. The set, titled Parable of the Sower, was commissioned by Noah Pomfrey’s children and installed in St. Paul’s Universalist Church in Meriden, Conn., in 1893.

Speaking of Tiffany, vintage lamps made by the renowned manufacturer will include a 10-inch Damascene shade on a hand-blown glass base (circa 1900-1910), a blown glass linen fold shade on a dore adjustable counterbalance base (circa 1910-1920), and a harp floor lamp with gold Favrile shade and signed, numbered base. Very nice Pairpoint lamps will also be sold.

From the fine art category, just a few lots of note include an oil on canvas by Jules Ghobert (Belgian, 1881-1971), titled Bath Time; two original oil on board works by Wayne Morrell (Am., b. 1923); an oil on canvas by Giuseppe Puricelli Guerra (It., 1825-1894), titled Hawking; and a grand scale oil on canvas by W. H. Smith, on the subject of “Eve” (circa 1900).

Wild and wonderful vehicles are another Red Baron trademark, and this sale will be no exception. Where else can you bid on a veritable fleet of 1960s Good Humor ice cream trucks? Other offerings will include a 1958 custom-bodied one-of-a-kind MG MGA hot rod, a 1963 Land Rover, a 1965 British armored scout vehicle, and restored Willys Jeepsters (1924, 1948).

From the open road to outer space, Red Baron has got it all. Sold will be a massive 397-pound meteorite that landed in Chile and will now be auctioned. Other finds will feature a rare white quartz crystal from Brazil weighing over 1,000 pounds, a large fossil of amenorites, and an authentic baby dinosaur skeleton from the Cretaceous period, originally unearthed in China.

Guitars won’t be the only musical lots on the menu. Other items of “note” will include a completely restored Wurlitzer jukebox (Model 850), a very nice signed harp in mahogany with a gilt edge, a rare musical clock in European walnut with fine carvings, and a large Regina 25-disc polyphone music box in a mahogany cabinet with foliate carvings and 12 additional music discs.

Red Baron Antiques is one of the oldest, largest and widely-known fine antiques sources in the Southeast. The firm is celebrating over 35 years of providing its customers with world-class service and unique inventory, displayed at its gallery facility, which is open to the public Monday through Friday, from 9-6, and Saturday from 9-4. Red Baron is closed on Sundays.

Red Baron also has several affiliate operations, such as The Red Baron Collection, Gallery 63, King Galleries and Queen’s Garden. These are profiled in the ‘Affiliates’ tool bar of the firm’s website, at www.rbantiques.com. Red Baron also owns Southern Seasons Magazine, a high-society lifestyle publication dedicated to the arts, culture, entertainment, style and class.

Red Baron is always in the hunt for quality merchandise for future sales. If you have an item, estate or collection to be considered, you may call them directly, at (404) 252-3770. Or, you can e-mail them at info@rbantiques.com. To learn more about Red Baron Antiques and the Nov. 6-7 auction, log on to www.rbantiques.com. A free color catalog is available on request.

(OCEANSIDE, N.Y.) – The original marriage certificate issued to pop legend Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of rock ‘n’ roll icon Elvis Presley, on May 26, 1994 in the Dominican Republic, when the couple embarked on their brief but highly publicized life together, sold for $70,800 at a multi-estate sale held Jan. 22-24 by Philip Weiss Auctions.

The weekend extravaganza, at which around 1,300 lots changed hands from a variety of categories in a sale that grossed more than $700,000, was held in Philip Weiss Auctions’ gallery facility, located at #1 Neil Court in Oceanside. As expected, the Jackson-Presley document was the top lot of the sale (not counting a single-owner lifetime stamp collection that made $77,000).

“This was a great way to start the new year,” Philip Weiss said of the auction, the first of 2010 for the firm. “The story with this one was pretty much the same as last year’s sales. Great merchandise sparked spirited bidding, which resulted in strong prices. It’s all about the items. If you’re fortunate to attract quality, fresh-to-the-market consignments, you’ll do well every time.”

About 200 people packed the showroom over the course of the three days. In addition, there were over 1,000 registered Internet bidders, who participated online via Proxibid.com and the Philip Weiss Auctions website (www.prwauctions.com). The marriage certificate, in fact, sold to a bidder on Proxibid.com. Phone and absentee bidding was also very active all three days.

The Jackson-Presley certificate is one of the most important celebrity documents of the 20th century, right up there with Charles and Diana’s and Monroe and DiMaggio’s wedding certificates. The 8 ½ inch by 10 ¾ inch sheet was signed by both stars and was also signed by State Official Hugo F. Perez. It had been laminated to protect it from the Dominican humidity.

Following are additional highlights from the auction. All prices quoted include a 13 percent buyer’s premium.

Philatelists (stamp collectors) were serious and came armed with cash, making the Sunday session (the last day of the sale) a memorable one. In addition to the single-owner collection that brought $77,000, a full, post office-fresh sheet of 80 stamps from the People’s Republic of China (Scott #1586), sailed past its high estimate of $55,000 to gavel for $67,250.

A page from the 1964 Beatles USA, Ltd. tour program, beautifully signed by all four Beatles and personally inscribed to the late pianist Liberace, soared to $15,800. In their light-hearted way, the Beatles signed the 12 inch by 12 inch page “to Liber-Archie” as a play on words. The photo on the page depicts the band wearing their winter coats, standing atop a wall.

The 1967 Belmont Stakes trophy, won by the late jockey and horse racing legend Willie Shoemaker when he rode Damascus into the winner’s circle, breezed to $15,350. The trophy, comprising 59 ounces of sterling silver, has three horses on a base holding up the body and is topped by a lid with a bridled horse as a handle. It is nicely embellished with leaves and acorns.

An official American League baseball, signed in blue ink on the sweet spot by Hall of Famer Tris Speaker, brought $7,910; a rare 1913 W.B. Jarvis Sporting Goods Store advertising sign featuring Hall of Famer Ty Cobb, with a New York Times article explaining Cobb’s connection to the firm, realized $7,350; and a find of E97 Briggs baseball cards made $14,000.

A pair of original works by the German-American artist Carl Rungius (1869-1959) were sold as a single lot for $9,900. The first was an oil on paper of a cowboy on a horse with snow-capped mountains in the background, with Rungius’ initials on verso. The second was an oil on canvas of a snowy landscape, featuring Rungius’ trademark thumbtack marks on each corner.

An 1892 marble bust of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir William Hamo Thornycraft, the initiator of the “New Sculptors,” went for $4,520. It is signed and dated at the bottom of the bust. Also, an oil on canvas work by Konstantin Alexeivitch Korovin (1861-1939), titled Interior of Room with People, crossed the finish line at $15,800.

Philip Weiss Auctions’ next big sale will be dedicated to Comics, Comic Art and Animation Art. It is slated for Sunday, Feb. 28, at 10 a.m. Featured will be the comic collection and original art from the estate of noted cartoonist Eldon Dedini. The comics consist of 21 key Golden Age books, all unrestored, with the owner’s name and code numbers noted on the covers.

Included in the collection are Detective Comics #’s 1, 2, 28, 34, 38, 40, 41, 42 and 48; More Fun #60 and 62; Batman #3, 4 and 5; comic art, to include a great 1962 Peanuts baseball daily and a Herriman Krazy Kat, both fresh to the market; two fresh to the market Hogarth Tarzan Sunday pages; a wonderful early Peanuts daily; and Eldon Dedini Playboy illustrations.

Then, on Saturday, Mar. 20, at 10 a.m., another auction will be held, this one dedicated to barber shop, militaria, nautical, presidential memorabilia and advertising items. Recently arrived are an original life preserver ring, café chairs and a deck lounge chair from the ill-fated ocean liner the Andrea Doria. The advertising section will feature a nice selection of Mr. Peanut items.

In April, at a time and date still to be determined, Philip Weiss Auctions will be proud to offer The Edward Ryan Toy Soldier & Military Memorabilia Collection. Mr. Ryan was a noted author on the subject of paper toy soldiers. His collection covers paper soldiers, plus Britains, composition soldiers and important French military memorabilia. It should be a good auction.

Philip Weiss Auctions is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (516) 594-0731, or e-mail them at phil@prwauctions.com. To learn more about Philip Weiss Auctions and its calendar of upcoming auctions, to include the Feb. 28 and Mar. 20 events, click on www.prwauctions.com.

Caution Urged on Michael Jackson Autographs, Memorabilia

(Santa Ana, California) — Collectors and fans are cautioned about the anticipated explosion of fake Michael Jackson autographs and counterfeit memorabilia that will be offered following the entertainer’s death.

“This happens every time a famous Hollywood, sports or political celebrity passes away. Online auctions and flea markets are suddenly filled with spurious signatures, and frankly many collectors don’t know exactly what they’re buying,” said Joe Orlando, President PSA/DNA Authentication Services, the world’s largest autograph and memorabilia authentication company and a division of Collectors Universe, Inc. (NASDAQ: CLCT) of Santa Ana, California.

“While Michael Jackson certainly was popular, he usually didn’t offer fans frequent autograph access like some other celebrities. So, there simply are not as many Jackson autographs as there are of other contemporary mega-stars.”

Orlando also cautioned that autograph buyers may not have adequate consumer protection even if the signature is accompanied by what appears to be a certificate of authenticity.

“Collectors who purchase autographs or memorabilia need to know the reputation of the seller and the reputation and expertise of the authenticators. The bottom line is that a certificate or letter of authenticity is only as strong as the name behind it,” Orlando said.

Online: www.PSADNA.com.

Apparently the glove which is completely covered in clear Swarovski crystals, comes from the collection of Dick Clark, and was a gift to Clark from Jackson.

Created by designer Bill Wheaton who created many of Jackson’s trademark outfits during the 1980′s, the glove was worn during the 1984-85 Victory tour, on the Grammys when Jackson won his record eight Grammys for Thriller, his Pepsi commercial’s debut and when he was badly burned on set filming the concert scene. He is also filmed with this glove on during the We Are The World Video and when he received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!

We’ll keep you updated on the final price.

FINAL UPDATE (June 26, 2009): We thought we should update this, given the events of yesterday, and the unexpected passing of Michael Jackson. That story is still unfolding, and of course is fully occupying the media outlets. …and, upstaging the death of another pop icon – Farrah Fawcett, who fought the good fight.

We’re sure there will be many more twists to the Jackson story.

But… back to the glove (it’s probably worth many more times what the winning bidder paid) – Final Price: $99,100 after 295 bids.

However the story plays out, we have to give props to yet another legend…

Ironically, the Wagon Train set was sold just a few minutes after another Marx playset crossed the block and held, albeit briefly, the world auction record, too. It was a Ben-Hur playset (Series 5000, Stock No. 4701), also made circa 1960 and in mint condition in the box. The set sailed past its pre-sale estimate of $2,000-$4,000 to bring $9,320. The Wagon Train set was expected to bring $1,000-$2,000.

“Obviously, the prices realized for the Marx playsets were a nice surprise,” said Philip Weiss. “Overall, the auction did about what we expected. The better items brought solid prices and the mid-level merchandise held its own. Given the current state of the financial markets and the economy as a whole, I’d say the sale was a success.” About 1,300 lots changed hands over the course of three days.

Mr. Weiss said the crowd was modest by his standards – only about 150 people in total – but phone and absentee bidding was brisk and 1,500 people registered online, via LiveAuctioneers.com and eBayLiveAuctions. During the past year, Philip Weiss Auctions has seen numerous auction records fall, including unprecedented prices for stamps (6); a Punch Cigar Store figure; and now a Marx playset.

Other top lots from the auction follow. All prices quoted include a 13 percent buyer’s premium.

Original pen-and-ink Peanuts comic strips by the legendary cartoonist and illustrator Charles Schulz have become commonplace at most Philip Weiss Auctions, but that doesn’t stop them from fetching dizzying prices. Four Peanuts strips sold for a combined $98,000. Included in the group was an original Sunday page with a cute bowling story line that went to a determined bidder for $33,000.

An extremely rare cardboard concert poster from 1969, advertising some of the great rock ‘n’ roll acts of the day (Jimi Hendrix, the Monkees, Glen Campbell and Rod McKuen), went for $5,750. The poster, from the collection of Concerts West promoter William Easley, advertised the spring and early summer lineup of shows at the Sam Houston Coliseum and Houston Music Hall in Houston, Tex.

Another rock ‘n’ roll poster – this one advertising an appearance by Jimi Hendrix at the Electric Factory on Feb. 21-22, 1968, extremely rare and in overall excellent condition – commanded $4,970. Returning to toys, a lot comprising a pair of Heyde elephants, made by the renowned German toy maker Heyde in the teens or early 1920s, climbed to $2,600. The lot included accessories (riders, etc.).

The Friday session was dedicated, in part, to rare and vintage dolls. A top earner was a lot of ten Nancy Ann Story Book dolls expected to bring about $150-$450 but when the final gavel came down the set had found a new owner for $2,930. All the dolls featured jointed legs, painted black slippers and complete costumes with hats or bows. Four of the dolls had circular gold labels on their period dresses.

Philip Weiss Auctions’ next big sale will be held the weekend of Nov. 21-23, in the firm’s spacious showroom, located at #1 Neil Court in Oceanside, N.Y. Friday, Nov. 21, will feature hundreds of fresh-to-the-market lots of fine art; estate jewelry; period furniture; sterling silver; pieces by Tiffany, Rand & Crane and Gorham, Oriental rugs; George Jones dinner plates; rare antique china; and more.

The Saturday, Nov. 22, session will be the firm’s greatest sports sale ever. Leading the charge will be a T206 Honus Wagner baseball card, often called the Holy Grail of sports cards. Graded SGC 3, it is expected to bring $500,000-$800,000. The T206 series was made from 1909-1911 by the American Tobacco Company. Just 200 of the Honus Wagner cards were ever distributed. Only a few exist today.

The Nov. 22 session will also feature an original owner collection of T205 and T206 cards, to include a highly prized Ray Demmitt error card; a bat signed by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig; a contest bat signed by Ruth; a Ruth signed ball from 1927; an archive of Ty Cobb letters; and an important collection of items pertaining to Willie Shoemaker, perhaps the greatest horse racing jockey of all time.

The Nov. 23 session will feature two fresh-to-the-market comic art collections that include three original Charles Schulz Peanuts strips and original Prince Valiant art by Hal Foster and John Cullen Murphy. The day will also include a Herriman Krazy Kat daily; a Felix the Cat Sunday page; a Segar Popeye; and an archive of 1950s DC comic pages, including pages from Superman and World’s Finest.

Also set to cross the block on Nov. 23 are several Wayne Boring Superman dailies; a high-grade copy of Famous Funnies #1; and other comic books and Big Little books. Rare books and autographs include an important Frank Lloyd Wright letter regarding the building of the Guggenheim Museum, with initialed plans by Wright. Also, a Louis Vuitton trunk from the Guggenheim family will be sold.

Philip Weiss Auctions will conclude the year with yet another blockbuster weekend event slated for Dec. 20-21. Featured will be the Ken Allisburg soda fountain and ice cream advertising collection; toys, including boxed amusement ride toys; 200-300 lots of toy trains; Part 3 of the B.L. “Phil” Philips collection, mostly battery-operated toys; vintage slot and coin-op machines; toy soldiers; and more.

Looking ahead to 2009, Philip Weiss Auctions is planning the fourth and final part of The Newport Stamp Collection (six world auction records were established in Parts 1-3). Early spring will see an auction dedicated to medical and scientific instruments and material. And recently arrived for an early 2009 sale is a huge single-owner toy train collection, including Post-War Lionel still in the box.

Philip Weiss Auctions is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, estate or collection, you may call them directly, at (516) 594-0731, or you can e-mail them at phil@prwauctions.com. To learn more about the firm and its calendar of upcoming sales, and to view images of some lots to be offered in the November 21-23 auctions, log on to www.prwauctions.com.

AFP
Thursday, September 04, 2008

“LONDON – The first guitar that rock legend Jimi Hendrix burned on stage fetched $495,000 at an auction in London on Thursday.

Also sold was the first management contract signed by The Beatles on January 24, 1962, which bears the names “John Winston Lennon,” “George Harrison,” “James Paul McCartney” and “Richard Starkey” (Ringo Starr).

Hendrix set the 1965 Fender Stratocaster alight – a gesture he later became famous for – following a landmark performance at London’s Finsbury Astoria in March 1967, and had to be taken to hospital to be treated for minor hand injuries afterward.”

Read the Full Story >>

USATODAY.com
August 7, 2008

“NEW YORK (AP) – Elvis Presley’s favorite performance costume, the peacock jumpsuit, sold for $300,000 Thursday, making it the most expensive piece of Elvis memorabilia sold at auction.

The online sale by auctioneer Gotta Have It! ended at 3 a.m. The pre-sale estimate was $275,000 to $325,000.”

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Guitar Guru | GadsdenTimes.com
Published February 28, 2008

“Serious collectors often go to great lengths to add to their collections. They might search flea markets, trade days, yard and estate sales or even shop at stores offering collectibles for sale. But there is one place many collectors overlook when searching out their collectibles, and that is pawn shops.

…While there have been many guitar makers, Greer specializes in three major brands, Gibson, Martin and Fender.

“The value of guitars which I collect, buy and sell can be surprising,” Greer said. “They can bring anywhere between several hundred dollars to $14,000 or $15,000.”

“There’s a very good chance that an average person could have a valuable guitar laying around their houses. It’s just not that unusual to find vintage guitars left in estates, and most people have no idea of their worth,” Greer said.”

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