A pair of blue suede shoes once worn by Elvis Presley is expected to sell for around $207,000NZD
Elvis, known as “The King,” wore these US size 10.5 shoes both on and off stage during the 1950s. He gave them to his friend Alan Fortas the night before his induction into the US army in 1958. Now, they are set to be auctioned by Henry Aldridge + Son in Wiltshire.
These iconic shoes, acquired by Elvis after recording his 1956 hit song “Blue Suede Shoes,” are estimated to fetch between$207,000 – $249,000NZD. They have been authenticated by Jimmy Velvet, a close friend of Elvis and considered “the world’s leading Elvis authority.”
Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge described the shoes as an “exceptional piece of show business, music, and popular culture memorabilia.” Alan Fortas shared the story of how he received the shoes in a letter that will accompany the lot. He recounted that the night before Elvis’s army induction, there was an all-night party at Graceland, followed by a visit to the Rainbow roller rink. Upon returning, Elvis gave away some of his clothes, including the blue suede shoes, to friends.
In recent weeks, other Elvis memorabilia has also attracted high bids. Elvis Presley’s personal Bible sold for $120,000 (NZD$197,000) at a separate auction. The Bible, kept on his nightstand, was found by his cousin Patsy Presley after his death in 1977. It was sold by GWS Auctions and featured Elvis’s full name embossed in gold, with many bookmarked pages and underlined passages that resonated with him.
