Elvis Presley fans who want to see the world through the iconic shades of the King of Rock and Roll may have to dig deep into their wallets, with a pair of his signature sunglasses headed to auction.
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Auction house Propstore is set to auction off the shades worn by Presley later this week, according to a press release. The King's shades are part of a larger auction called "Music Live Auction," which will take place in the UK on Oct. 1 and 2. Propstore values the lot at $4 million.
However, avid fans of the "Hound Dog" singer don't need quite that much bank to nab his iconic shades. The auction house is expecting as much $26,400 for the legendary eyewear.
The Pair of Elvis's Shades Going to Auction Reportedly Were Worn During His Karate Sparring Sessions...
Hardcore fans of Elvis may also be impressed with the lineage of the sunglasses. They passed from the King's karate-chopping hands all the way down to Elvis Aaron Presley, Jr., who claimed to be the singer's illegitimate son.
According to the listing, Elvis frequently wore the shades, a custom pair of Neostyle Nautic 2 frames, while practicing martial arts. The glasses were reportedly karate-chopped (and broken) often by sparring partner Red West. Perhaps seeing them as something of a token of their time doing martial arts together, Elvis gave the shades to West.
Indeed, the shades have some character from those sparring sessions. According to the press release, "the original frames show signs of wear." That includes damage to the left nose pad arm. They also have replacement lenses.
How Elvis Presley's Sunglasses Found Thier Way to Canada
West then gifted them to Graceland resident Charlie Hodge. He kept the sunglasses for over two decades before they found their way to Elvis Aaron Presley, Jr., who displayed them for nearly twenty years at the Elvis Presley Museum in Niagara Falls, Canada.
"Few accessories are as instantly recognizable as Elvis's sunglasses," Mark Hochman, Propstore's Music Specialist, gushed. "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."
"People recognize this style immediately, but the story of this particular pair goes much deeper," Elvis Aaron Presley, Jr. added. "They passed from Elvis to Red West and then to Charlie Hodge, two people who knew him closely. I've spent more than 35 years sharing Elvis memorabilia with fans. I hope the next owner will value the personal history behind these sunglasses."
Meanwhile, fans wanting to put a bid in don't have to travel to the UK. Per the press release, "bidding is available online, by telephone, and via absentee bids."
