Elvis-owned sunglasses headline Hertfordshire company's £3m auction
Sunglasses worn by music icon Elvis Presley are among a number of rare items being put up for auction by a Hertfordshire entertainment company.
Propstore revealed it is selling sunglasses, that have been looked after by one of the King’s close friends, as part of an overall lot expected to generate around £3 million in sales.
Taking place across Thursday and Friday, the auction has been titled ‘music live auction’ and contains over 800 pieces of memorabilia.
The original sunglasses, which were worn by the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, are expected to go for between £10,000-£20,000.
“The sunglasses are an original pair of Neostyle Nautic 2 frames worn by Elvis Presley," Propstore reveals. “He purchased his first pairs from Dennis Roberts’ Optique Boutique on Sunset Boulevard and quickly took to the distinctive style."
The Hertfordshire company, which makes its auctions available worldwide, also confirmed that the sunglasses were passed onto his close friend, bodyguard and martial arts sparring partner Red West.
It has also been confirmed that the glasses were passed by Red onto Charlie Hodge, who lived with Elvis at Graceland and kept the sunglasses in his personal collection for 25 years.
"The original frames show signs of wear, including damage to the left nose pad arm, and have replacement lenses,” Propstore adds. “They are accompanied by a brown leather case and a letter of authenticity signed by Hodge.”
Elvis Aaron Presley, Jr. made the glasses available to Propstore, his memorabilia has been showcased at The Elvis Presley Museum in Niagara Falls, Canada for 18 years.
Mark Hochman, Propstore’s music specialist, said: “Few accessories are as instantly recognizable as Elvis’s sunglasses. What makes this pair especially compelling is its personal history: Elvis gave them to Red West, and they later spent 25 years in Charlie Hodge’s collection. At Propstore, we’re excited to offer collectors a piece with such a close connection to the King and the people around him. ”
Elvis Aaron Presley, Jr. added: “I’ve spent more than 35 years sharing Elvis memorabilia with fans, and I hope the next owner will value the personal history behind these sunglasses as much as their connection to the King.”