A massive Elvis Presley memorabilia auction will take place on August 13, at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. The 197 items include The King’s birth certificate, a .357 Magnum revolver, and a custom made karate gi.
Lot 165: Elvis Presley’s Custom Karate Gi Used to Design the McCormick “Elvis Karate” Bourbon Decanter and Accompanied by Original Decanter in Box
Starting bid: $10,000
Estimate: $20,000 – $30,000
One of Elvis’ greatest passions, after his music, was his love of karate. Elvis began taking karate lessons in 1958 while stationed in Germany from Jüergen Seydel, and took private lessons during his time off with one of Japan’s top Shotokan stylists, Tetsuji Murakami. Elvis continued his devotion and dedication to karate throughout his career, training with Kenpo Master Ed Parker, Hank Slomanski and Kang Rhee. Elvis studied under Kang Rhee in the early ’70s, during which time he received his seventh degree black belt.
Karate was not a passing fancy for Elvis, but an integral part of his life, affecting every aspect of his activities, from demonstrating karate moves on stage during his concerts, to incorporating its values into his spiritual beliefs. So faithful was Elvis to karate that he founded the Tennessee Karate Institute in 1974.
During his training with Kang Rhee, Elvis preferred to have his instruction with other students; however, the students’ attention to the class was drawn away by Elvis’ mere presence. Elvis’ solution was to request a special demonstration during which he could show the students that he was serious in his martial arts and not simply there as an entertainer. Elvis considered this important demonstration a performance, so Kang Rhee had a special custom gi designed specifically for Elvis. Prevalent and abundant are the images of Elvis donning this iconic-style white gi with red satin trim and a customized seventh degree red-colored black belt embroidered with Elvis Presley’s name as well as his karate name of Tiger.
This Bear Brand cotton gi was given to McCormick Distilling Co. by Vernon Presley and Colonel Parker as a model for an Elvis Presley karate-themed decanter. The gi was eventually donated by McCormick Distilling Co. to the Jim Reeves Museum, where it was on display for many years. The accompanying documents detail the outfit’s travels from Vernon Presley to McCormick, the Jim Reeves Museum, the company that purchased the Jim Reeves Museum in 1996 and then finally into the hands of an advanced collector. It is unlikely that Elvis used this gi for heavy training, if at all, as there are no tell-tale signs of use. It does, however, compare favorably in many respects to other examples in the Graceland Archives in terms of brand, size and style. It was definitely issued by Kang Rhee in the period just before or just after Elvis’ passing.
The offered jacket has the TCB patch surrounded by the words Faith, Spirit and Discipline on the chest, along with Kang Rhee karate patches on the arm and back. The pants present Elvis’ trademark, flourishes along the kick pleats, and both jacket and pants are size 5, one of the sizes Elvis was known to wear in his karate uniforms.
An example of the McCormick bourbon decanter, still in its original box, is included.
Lot 166: Elvis Presley’s International Karate Championships Pin, Circa 1970
Starting bid: $1,500
Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000
Karate was an important part of Elvis Presley’s life in the early ’70s, with Elvis achieving his 7th degree black belt in 1973. Karate provided Elvis with spiritual contentment and he embraced it with open arms by practicing its skills and teachings in all aspects of his life. This enameled International Karate Championships lapel pin is offered with a letter from Tish Henley dated April 28, 2010, that states in part, Elvis Presley gave me this lapel pin that belonged to him along with many other items and gifts during the time that I knew him and a photo of Elvis wearing the pin on his lapel (the left-most pin). Likely the sole pin of its type given to Elvis, of which even the Graceland Archives does not have an example. The international Karate Championships of Long Beach, California, was first held in 1964 by Kenpo Grandmaster Ed Parker, who would later become an integral part of Elvis’ life. The lapel pin measures approximately 1 inch (2.54 cm) in length and is accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Graceland Authenticated.
Lot 159: Elvis Presley Owned 1971 Colt Lawman MKIII .357 Magnum Revolver – With Unimpeachable Provenance
Starting bid: $12,000
Estimate: $25,000 – $35,000
On October 9, 1971, Elvis Presley visited the Frontier Gun Shop in Palm Springs, California, and purchased five firearms, including the offered Colt Lawman MKIII .357 Magnum revolver. In the world of Elvis gun collecting, rarely can one make such a conclusive statement. But the weapon presented here, and its supporting documentation, create the perfect opportunity to make such a claim. We have a letter from Elvis’ right hand man, road manager and co-best man Joe Esposito attesting that, This gun was given to me by Elvis Aaron Presley. But what separates this gun is the other document, namely a copy of the actual Federal Firearms Acquisition and Disposition Record from the Frontier Gun Shop. Since 1968, federal law mandates that each Federal Firearm licensee, such as the Frontier Gun Shop, enter in its logbook each firearm that is acquired, where it came from and to whom it was sold. So there on pages 17A and 17B we find, halfway down, the entry for the firearm offered here, right down to the serial number J42429 and the purchaser, one Elvis Presley of 144 Monovale Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA. Perhaps never again will one see such a mountain of evidence attesting to a gun being owned and used by Elvis Presley.
Lot 69: 1962 “Kid Galahad” Italian One-Panel Movie Poster – “Pugno Proibito” – Starring Elvis Presley
Starting bid: $400
Estimate: $800 – $1,000
Released by United Artists in 1962, Kid Galahad is the story of Walter Gulick, a mechanic and two-bit boxer who gets into fighting for the money and wins all his bouts and the heart of the girl he admires. In the film, Elvis plays the role of Walter the boxer, and many of the promotional images—including the cover of the soundtrack—feature Elvis in boxing trunks and gloves, in a fighting stance. For whatever reason, be it timing or logistics, the Italian film distributors did not have access to any of the art for the film, but their improvisation is our gain!
