A rare and revealing letter documenting Elvis Presley’s very personal “GI Blues” headlined R&R’s August auction, which concluded on August 13.
In the letter, written from Germany after “The King’s” induction into the army in 1958, Presley notes that he is homesick and that “I miss mother [who had died a few months earlier] more over here than anything because I am just now realizing that she won’t ever be here anymore.”
Though all material signed by Elvis enjoys steady and healthy interest among collectors, letters in his hand are of the greatest scarcity, with only a handful of examples known to exist. This rarity, coupled with the extraordinary content, propelled the letter to $30,186, the auction’s top result.
An original football-themed Sunday Peanuts strip by Charles Schulz, depicting Peppermint Patty and Marcy, with a “hair raising” cameo by Linus, sold for $25,829, leading the arts and literature categories. An 1804 order signed by Horatio Nelson aboard his legendary vessel HMS Victory sold for $10,152, topping the results for military and historical figures.
Top sellers in the presidential category included a signed ticket to JFK’s 1962 birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden, $6,302; a George Washington franking signature, $5,898; a Lincoln endorsement on a recommendation for the brother and son of veterans who died in service, $5,305; and an excellent Theodore Roosevelt photo inscribed to the man who formally nominated him as the Progressive presidential candidate in 1912, $3,451.
Other historical items of note included a 1776 military appointment signed by John Hancock, $9,718; an oversized photo signed by the Mercury Seven, $7,213; a limited edition book signed by Albert Einstein, $5,207; a NASA photo signed by Neil Armstrong, $3,449; and an original flown page from the Apollo 11 flight plan, authenticated and signed by Buzz Aldrin, $3,368.
Art and literature highlights included a 1954 letter from Ernest Hemingway offering advice to an aspiring writer and describing his own depression, $6,302; a color image from Bambi signed by Walt Disney, $6,302; a scarce letter from J.D. Salinger on his loathing of summer, his taste in movies and the “cruelly unmagical,” 1940s, $5,729; a copy of The Art of Walt Disney inscribed for a friend in the Royal Australian Air Force, $3,375; and a print signed by Picasso, $3,232.
Standouts in music included a letter from Billie Holiday, $5,367; an early set of Beatles signatures, $4,431; a vintage publicity photo signed by Elvis, $3,556; a program page signed by the Rolling Stones’ original lineup, including Brian Jones, $3,327; and a page from the original orchestral score to Lawrence of Arabia signed by composer Maurice Jarre, $2,893.
Outstanding items in entertainment included a pristine Jun Fan Gung Fu Institute membership card signed by Bruce Lee, $4,303; a signed photo of Steve McQueen as he appeared in The Thomas Crown Affair , $2,887; and a card signed by Houdini with his famous motto, “Love laughs at locksmiths, so does Harry Handcuff Houdini,” $2,167.
Top sports results included a 1939 New York World’s Fair employee ID card signed by Babe Ruth, $2,876, and a photo signed by Joe Louis and Sonny Liston, $1,344.
All prices given include the buyer’s premium.
For information, 800-937-3880 or www.rrauction.com .
