Graceland Questions Authenticity of Elvis Presley Memorabilia Sold by Auction House

As a dedicated Elvis Presley fan and avid collector of his memorabilia for over three decades, I’ve spent countless hours researching and acquiring authentic pieces from his life. The recent allegations against GWS Auctions, an auction house with ties to Priscilla Presley, have left me deeply concerned.

A memorabilia auction house linked to Priscilla Presley, which specializes in Elvis Presley’s belongings, is facing criticism from Graceland officials over concerns about the authenticity of certain pieces they are selling.

I, as a dedicated Elvis Presley fan, have been following the latest developments regarding GWS Auctions and the concerns raised by Joel Weinshanker, managing partner of Elvis Presley Enterprises. He voiced his apprehensions to NBC News about the auction house, which is owned by Brigitte Kruse. It’s important to note that Kruse is among the four individuals named in Priscilla Presley’s lawsuit filed this week, alleging financial elder abuse.

Weinshanker told the outlet he first became suspicious of the auction house when he noticed a black grommet jacket, said to be worn by the legendary singer in 1972, listed for sale. However, he claimed the jacket was hanging in Graceland’s private collection.

I was thrilled to discover that there’s only one known example of this rare gaming collectible in existence, and you know what? I personally have the privilege of having it stored in our archives here. NBC News even confirmed their sighting of it during a visit to Elvis’ estate in Memphis, where they were able to verify the jacket and its accompanying receipt.

Some memorabilia up for auction at GWS Auctions, which Elvis’ estate representatives are raising doubts about, consist of several of Elvis’ jewels and his personal jet. Elvis’ estate alleges that he didn’t actually fly on the private jet and only owned it for a short duration.

Executives at Graceland have raised concerns over certain items being auctioned off by GWS Auctions, which come with letters from Priscilla claiming they are authentic. However, Elvis’ estate argues that some of these objects would not have belonged to the musician after his divorce from Priscilla (married 1967-1972). In simpler terms, Graceland is worried about items being sold as genuine with Priscilla’s letters, but Elvis’ estate believes these items weren’t Elvis’ property post-divorce.

“If Priscilla and Elvis hadn’t interacted face-to-face for long periods of time, how could she be certain of his actions or inactions?” Weinshanker questioned in an interview with News News.

Over the course of his career, Elvis’ father, Vernon Presley, meticulously documented every financial transaction of the singer.

Due to some legal issues in his past, Vernon was meticulous about saving every receipt. So, if you ask us about Elvis’s activities on a specific day in 1962, we can make a good guess based on his spending records.

I used to tell NBC News that even though I recognize the meticulousness of the family’s record-keeping, it’s challenging for me to accept that each and every possession Elvis had was accounted for.

In a previous interview, Kruse stated that none of us were present at the event in question. Therefore, how can they claim to have all the facts with absolute certainty? It’s unrealistic. Moreover, if Priscilla’s memories hold no value, then whose do?

According to a complaint filed this week, Priscilla claims that Kruse became involved in managing her finances and served as her power of attorney following their long-standing friendship. However, their relationship has lately become contentious due to ongoing legal disputes. Notably, Priscilla countered Kruse’s lawsuit from last year, in which he alleged that she breached contractual obligations by reneging on an agreement granting him exclusive rights to manage her brand and public image.

I have attempted to contact representatives from Graceland, Priscilla, and GWS Auctions through The Hollywood Reporter for further information.

2024-07-21 04:54

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