With this year being the 75th anniversary of Elvis’ birth, Heritage Auction Galleries is holding the Ultimate Elvis Auction. Among other memorabilia, the auction features Elvis Presley’s beloved white Knabe grand piano. The finely crafted instrument carries the prestige of the Wm. Knabe & Co. name, the same company which provided the piano for Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s opening concert of Carnegie Hall in 1891. Originally owned by the Ellis Auditorium, the piano’s history traces back to Elvis’ formative years, including his graduation from Hume High School and the funeral for R. W. Blackwood and bass singer Bill Lyles.  Letters of Authenticity included with the piano offer a glimpse into the musician’s personal life, with his close friends recounting long evenings spent with Elvis playing his piano. After purchasing the piano in 1957, Elvis personally supervised its refinishing before displaying it within his music room at Graceland. While bidding will begin at $500,000, the piano is expected to fetch over $1,000,000.

Alongside the piano will be auctioned several acetates  from Elvis’ personal collection, documents handwritten by Elvis himself, and a 1976 Triumph TR-6 Convertible which had been presented by Elvis as a gift to Ginger Alden. Also worth mentioning is Elvis’ opal ring, a stunning piece originally sold to him by famed Memphis jeweler Lowell Hays. The setting includes 34 diamonds and is expected to go for over $50.000. The auction will be held Saturday, August 14, at The Peabody Hotel.  Should you like to place an absentee bid, 31 lots from the auction are currently available through the Heritage Auction Galleries’ website.

~Affluent Page