Lots in the July 22 Summer Auction include Presley’s pyjamas, an autographed copy of The Omen novel and a signed copy of Presley’s first music agency contract with The William Morris agency.
The highest-estimated lot is Presley’s first music agency contract, signed in New York with William Morris Agency, which carries an estimate of £24,500-34,500. It is dated January 31, 1956, and was signed by Elvis in four places when he was just 21. The day before the signing, Presley recorded Blue Suede Shoes at RCA Studio 1.
The contract is sold with copies of two photographs of Presley with Nat Lefkowitz, Presley's manager Colonel Tom Parker and Harry Kalcheim at the signing. The contract is Presley’s first to represent him as a touring artist and aspiring actor. He had recently left Sun Records and his first RCA single had just been released. The contract gave the agency the rights to book him except for "fairs, one-nighters, and engagements customarily handled directly" by Presley's manager, Parker.
The auction in Devizes, Wiltshire, also includes pyjamas worn by Presley when he was in the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis in April 1977, less than five months before his death. They are estimated at £6000-10,000. The pyjamas were owned by Chris Davidson, who ran an Elvis museum. He bought them, among other items, from Holbart and Bonnie Burnette, who had purchased the house and contents of Presley’s father Vernon, whose home was adjacent to Graceland. The pyjamas had been left there.
Another lot from the auction is a signed copy of The Omen novel from August 1977. Presley read, inscribed and signed the book just before his planned tour that same month, which did not take place due to his untimely death. The book is accompanied with a letter from Presley’s father Vernon which said the book was “amongst the last to be signed”. The book and letter also come with a signed letter from the Elvis Presley Museum and carry an estimate of £8000-10,000.
