Elvis Memorabilia

Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January 8, 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi. He died aged 42 on August 16, 1977 but during his short life and since his death he has become one of the most well known cultural icons of modern times.

Pictured right: Elvis PEZ dispensers depict iconic images from three periods of his career and are packaged in a collectible tin.

His impact on modern music is such that is often referred to as "The King of Rock 'n' Roll", or simply "The King".

Pictured left: Classic picture of Elvis Presley which is also available as a poster.

Presley began his career as one of the first performers of rockabilly, an uptempo fusion of country and rhythm and blues with a strong back beat. His novel versions of existing songs, mixing "black" and "white" sounds, made him popular—and controversial—as did his uninhibited stage and television performances.

He recorded songs in the rock and roll genre, with tracks like "Hound Dog" and "Jailhouse Rock" later embodying the style. Presley had a versatile voice and had unusually wide success encompassing other genres, including gospel, blues, ballads and pop. To date, he is the only performer to have been inducted into four music halls of fame.

Pictured right: San Francisco Music Box limited edition piano featuring a magnificent Elvis portrait by celebrity artist, Nate Giorgio.  The piano lid can be raised and features Elvis's autograph reproduced in gold lettering.  Officially endorsed by the Estate of Elvis Presley and hand-crafted in real wood. 

On January 27, 1956 Elvis Presley's first RCA single 'Heartbreak Hotel' was released. This hit number one by April selling one million copies. Elvis went on to have five number ones that year alone. Elvis had become a phenomenon. From the very outset merchandise was important and Elvis Presley Enterprizes Incorporated was established to create everything from clothing to jewelry and from dolls to games. By the end of 1956 the Elvis Presley Enterprizes Incorporated alone had grossed between $20 and $25 million.

Pictured left: Poster of the picture Triple Elvis by Andy Warhol. The original picture was produced in 1963.  Elvis continued to dominate the music charts in the both the US and UK in the late 50s and early 60s with a string of hits and successful concerts. As well as singing, Elvis turned his attention to acting and he made thirty-three movies mainly during the 1960s By mid 1968 Elvis's music career was by his standards floundering but with a telecast at Christmas 1968, later dubbed the '68 Comeback Special' he returned to live music with rave reviews.

Rolling Stone called it "a performance of emotional grandeur and historical resonance." The show featured lavishly staged productions, but also saw Elvis clad in black leather, performing live in an uninhibited style reminiscent of his rock and roll days.

Pictured right: This beautifully detailed brass ornament shows a 360 degree view of the Graceland mansion. 

Buoyed by the experience, Presley engaged in the prolific series of recording sessions at American Studios, which lead to the acclaimed From Elvis in Memphis. It was followed by From Memphis To Vegas/From Vegas To Memphis, a double-album. The same sessions lead to the hit singles "In the Ghetto", "Suspicious Minds", "Kentucky Rain" and "Don't Cry Daddy". In 1969, Presley made record-breaking appearances in Las Vegas. He then toured across the U.S. up to his death, with many of the 1,145 concerts setting venue attendance records.

Pictured left: Royal Doulton Elvis figurine produced in a Limited Edition of 2500. 

For collectors there is a huge legacy of material to seek and thanks to Elvis Presley Enterprizes who continue to license the Elvis name and image there is a constant stream of new memorabilia.

Elvis's home Graceland has become the second most visited house in the US, after the White House and continues to attract hundred of thousands of visitors each year. Whilst the demand remains companies will continue to create collectibles.

Pictured right: Thomas Kinkade painting of Graceland marking the 50th Anniversary of the purchase by Elvis Presley. 

Due to the variation of available Elvis memorabilia, some collectors specialize in certain areas including but not exhaustive: collecting Elvis records, sheet music, original autographs and documents, collecting Elvis in print such as newspapers and magazines, collecting live performance memorabilia, collecting Graceland's related items and Elvis in the movies.

Pictured left: Elvis 'That's All Right' record on the Sun label. 

With the advent of the Internet access to items is easier than ever, but always remember 'Caveat emptor'. A simple 'Elvis' search on ebay will normally return over 8,000 items ranging from original clothing to figurines and from music boxes to records. Major auction houses such as Christies and Bonhams hold regular Film Memorabilia and Rock Memorabilia sales which regularly feature Elvis items. With Elvis songs still charting the legend of The King looks set to continue.

Related
A Look at Graceland and Collectibles
Books on Elvis Memorabilia
Elvis at Auction
Video: Vinyl Record Collecting Tips : Elvis: Record Collecting Guide

Sun Record Studio History

Film & TV Memorabilia
Rock & Pop Memorabilia