Elvis Presley was not hurt in the 1973 Las Vegas crowd attack but was ‘rattled’ and bought the weapon
Elvis Presley’s gun, bought after a four-person onstage attack in Las Vegas left the star ‘rattled’, is to be auctioned next weekend along with other personal pieces.
Other lots include chest x-rays taken just months before his death by heart attack, golden jewellery owned by the king of bling and Graceland documents.
The personal pieces are expected leave bidders ‘All Shook Up’ when they go under the hammer with GWS Auctions in Beverly Hills next weekend, Saturday May 11.
Elvis’s Smith & Wesson handgun bought by the star after he was attacked onstage in 1973 could sell for up to £15,300.
He was left unhurt by the attack at the Las Vegas Hilton, Nevada, but was believed to have been so ‘rattled’ by the encounter that he purchased the weapon.
According to a provenance letter, the ‘Shook Up’ star then added black grips and filed the hammer down so he could ‘strap it to his right leg while onstage’.
The Smith and Wesson handgun bought by Elvis after he was attacked onstage in 1973 at the Las Vegas Hilton, Nevada. Expected to sell for up to £15,300 ($20,000 USD)
Potentially leading the bidding could be the purchase contract for Graceland signed by Elvis, his mother Gladys and father Vernon, which could fetch £30,000 ($40,000USD). It validated the sale of the property from Memphis socialite Ruth Moore for a total of £70,000 ($90,000 USD)
A series of x-rays, including a negative of the chest scan from September 1976, less than a year before his death has an estimate of $3,000 USD.
The x-ray that could have been taken to analyse chest pains, with the cause of Elvis’s death in August 1977 ruled as a heart attack.
Two other x-rays are also up for auction, one of his right hand scanning for a potential break or fracture where his bracelet can be clearly seen, and another of his right foot.
A dimpled signet ring owned by the star, diamond and white gold, with Elvis Presley’s initials E.P. spelled in diamonds
A vintage Bulova Accuquartz timepiece engraved with KING is also up for grabs, it was given to Elvis’s bodyguard and eventually wardrobe manager Richard Davis as a Christmas present
The 10-karat gifted watch bares an inscription on the back plate reading ‘KING’ in true Elvis style
A 14-karat yellow gold watch gifted after his electrifying sold out performance in 1969 following eight years without performing. It was given to the bandleader of the Las Vegas International Hotel, Bobby Morris, engraving on the back – To Bobby from ‘Squirrly’
Brigitte Kruse, of GWS Auctions, said: ‘When Elvis was attacked on stage by a crowd of people during one of his it rattled him and put things into perspective.
‘He was able to get away and from my understanding his security team would have been able to mitigate the situation.
‘I don’t think he was harmed but it was a wake-up call for him.
‘Being a performer on stage, you don’t know if someone is coming at you to cause harm to kill or embrace you, it really scared Elvis.
‘What he did with this revolver was file it down to fit in his boot, that way he could wear it on stage, should something happen.
‘There has always been this crazed fanbase surrounding Elvis Presley and then The Beatles, people tried to steal Elvis’s body after it was buried the first time.
‘The chest x-ray was before Elvis passed away, I can only speculate but it’s quite possible that Elvis had chest pains – ultimately passing away due to heart issues.
In these shots you can see Elvis and his gold bracelets. Two other x-rays are also up for auction, one of his right hand for a potential break or fracture, where his bracelet can be clearly seen, and another of his right foot
A series of x-rays, including a negative of the chest scan from September 1976, less than a year before his death that could have been taken to analyse chest pains. The lot could sell for up to £2,300 ($3,000 USD)
A chest scan. The cause of Elvis’s death in August 1977, was ruled to from a heart attack
‘He had heart disease and what is amazing to me is that in September 1976, less than year before his death, he was obviously complaining of chest pains.
‘I would say in the medical realm of memorabilia these are extremely rare because unlike pill bottles, x-rays are kept in medical files.
‘What’s also really neat is that in the hand x-ray you can see his gold bracelet, it’s something very different and you won’t see this kind of item again.’
Potentially leading the bidding could be the purchase contract for Graceland signed by Elvis, his mother Gladys and father Vernon, which could fetch £30,000 ($40,000 USD).
It validated the sale of the property from Memphis socialite Ruth Moore for a total of £70,000 ($90,000 USD), where he would live for 20-years.
Brigitte said: ‘I have never seen anything with all three of their signatures on it, which is just incredible.
‘Elvis loved his parents so much, so to be able to have something like this and share such success with them, makes it one of the most notable pieces.’
Some of the elaborate jewellery of Elvis is also up for sale including his iconic diamond and 14k yellow/white gold nugget ring bearing his initials.
Elvis Presley Custom Made Solid 18K Yellow Gold Guitar Brooch with tiger eye inlay. It was given to Aunt Delta, with a certificate of authentication. He met the star in 1955 and remained close with the family, even after Elvis’s death
An 18k yellow gold belt buckle bearing the Rolls Royce grill, Flying Lady and Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornaments. Elvis gave the prized piece to his Aunt Delta, who was the only person living on Graceland after his death it was previously purchased by the owner of the Elvis Museum Jimmy Velvet
An 14k yellow gold watch gifted after his electrifying sold out performance in 1969 following eight years without performing.
It was given to the bandleader of the Las Vegas International Hotel, Bobby Morris, engraving on the back ‘To Bobby from Squirrly EP’.
Although misspelled by the engraver, the nickname ‘Squirrley’ was given to Elvis due to his ‘fooling around’ during rehearsals.
A vintage Bulova Accuquartz timepiece engraved with ‘King’ is also up for grabs, it was given to Elvis’s bodyguard and eventually wardrobe manager Richard Davis as a Christmas present.
Brigitte said: ‘Jewellery was Elvis’s way of decorating himself, you realise his parents were sharecroppers.
‘For someone of such humble beginnings, he could never have dreamed about owning jewellery, so then to become one of the most famous people in the world.
‘I think jewellery was the first thing attainable to him, it was something he never had before and could only have dreamed of those finer things as boy.
A rare pair of unused concert tickets from The Tour That Never Was a mere month after Elvis’s death
Gold Record to commemorate Suspicious Minds selling more than one million copies
‘When he found a piece that he really loved he would buy five or ten, he was a very giving person, gifting jewellery and cars.’
An 18k yellow gold belt buckle bearing the Rolls Royce grill, ‘Flying Lady’ and ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ hood ornaments.
Elvis gave the prized piece to his Aunt Delta, who was the only person living on Graceland after his death – it was previously purchased by the owner of the Elvis Museum Jimmy Velvet.
He met the star in 1955 and remained close with the family, even after Elvis’s death, and also received a custom made 18k yellow gold guitar brooch.
Jimmy said: ‘Delta disclosed that she was going to pass away soon and wanted me to purchase all of the things which Elvis had given her over the years..’
These feature alongside a rare pair of unused concert tickets from ‘The Tour That Never Was’ a mere month after Elvis’s death and 1969 RIAA Gold Record to commemorate ‘Suspicious Minds’ selling more than one million copies.
An autograph book with Elvis, his girlfriend Anita Wood and uncle Vester Presley’s signatures, a promotional collection from Blue Hawaii, and a sympathy acceptance card from the Presley family to a fan.
Other headlining pieces include a Rolex watch given to Marlon Brando as a gift after winning the Oscar in 1973 for his performance in the Godfather.
The timepiece that is engraved with ‘Vito’s’ after his character Don Corleone and ‘MB’ his initials, could sell for $10,000 USD.
Other headlining pieces in the May 11 auction include a Rolex watch given to Marlon Brando as a gift after winning the Oscar in 1973 for his performance in the Godfather. Expected to sell for £7,600 ($10,000 USD)
Marlon Brando’s watch. The timepiece is engraved with Vito’s after his character Don Corleone and MB his initials. It was given by Brando to Academy Award nominated designer Patricia Norris after the pair developed a friendship
It was given by Brando to Academy Award nominated designer Patricia Norris after the pair developed a friendship.
Brigitte said: ‘This is a pretty incredible find and has never been offered at auction, it’s a piece no one knew existed.
‘It’s arguably the most significant film of all time, Marlon Brando and Don Vito Corleoni, in the film world that’s as good as it gets.
‘Patricia built such a great rapport and relationship with Brando that he said, “This will probably fit you and I want to give it to you.”‘
The Archives of Hollywood & Music auction will take place on May 11 starting at 10am PST (6pm UK time), for more information or to place a bid visit: www.gwsauctions.com