Library card from Humes High School in Memphis signed by Elvis Presley in 1948 while borrowing the book Courageous Heart: A Life of Andrew Jackson for Young Readers (Image credit Heritage Auctions)
Library card from the records of Humes High School in Memphis signed by 13-year old Elvis Presley has been sold at an auction for $7500, more than twice than expected, reports the website of Heritage Auctions. The auction running online for the past 2 weeks has been organized in view of 35th death anniversary of The King of Rock and Roll on August 16 with more than 305 memorabilia related to Elvis.
The card was discovered accidentally last year, when the library staff was taking the inventory, in one of the books “Courageous Heart: A Life of Andrew Jackson for Young Readers” by Bessie and James Marcus. The book is about one of the first presidents of United States, considered to be the founder of Democratic Party, and it was also added to the lot.
The teenage boy while reading the biography of Jackson did not know at that time that he would personally talk to presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon.
Auction house in a statement said that this signature on the card dating back to December 1948 was the earliest known signature of the cult artist. At that time Presley had only one award in his name – a prize he won for singing the folk song Old Shep during a fair in his hometown Tupelo, before his family moved to Memphis.
The auction house had put for sale many other items once owned by Presley including a silver bracelet with turquoise, Tiger Man Sunglasses, an empty tetracycline bottle, gold watch, gray cape, which Elvis bought in 1957 for his Canadian tour and later presented it to a fan with an autograph on the lining, guitars and rings, certificate and a Palm Spring police badge, donated by the fans of the King.
Collectors were also offered one of the most popular “toys” of Presley – a Colt Python revolver which he used to hone his shooting skills. Presley almost always carried a weapon, and since 60s he rarely parted with it, even while performing on stage.
The auction in Memphis had been dedicated to 35th death anniversary of the King. Elvis even after death remains one of the best-selling pop singers in history, entering Rolling Stone journal’s list top three greatest singers and performers of all time.
More than one billion records and CDs of Presley have been sold so far achieving gold, platinum or multi-platinum status as The King recorded 150 albums during his lifetime. Three times in his lifetime, he was awarded the Grammy, eighteen songs of Elvis topped the Billboard charts.
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