Elvis fans will have the rare chance to acquire one of his legendary stage-worn jumpsuits at a special auction later this month.
The sale will take place at Presley’s former Graceland home in Memphis, Tennessee, during a series of events commemorating the 40th anniversary of his death on August 16, 1977.
Known as the ‘Blue Armadillo’ jumpsuit, the two-piece outfit consists of a sleeveless jumpsuit and a matching jacket, decorated with a pattern resembling the scales of an Armadillo.
Elvis wore the suit in the Spring of 1975, and was photographed wearing it on stage several times during performances in Las Vegas, Nevada; Macon, Georgia; Lakeland, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Monroe, Louisiana; and Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Having previously sold in 1999 as part of the Graceland Archives Auction, the suit now comes to the market after spending years hidden away in a private collection.
"As a result of the extremely limited number of jumpsuits not currently in the Graceland Archives, only a coveted few ever become available to collectors and this opportunity comes so very infrequently," said the auction house.
"The ‘Blue Armadillo’ jumpsuit is a treasure, with its solid provenance and plethora of images of Elvis performing in this very costume, making it the absolute pinnacle of any important Elvis collection."
Throughout the 1970s Elvis became known for his remarkable jumpsuits, which were made in Hollywood, California by designers Bill Belew and Gene Douchette.
They created almost 100 elaborate stage outfits for Elvis, and today the vast majority are owned by the official Graceland Archives.
Just a few jumpsuits remain in private hands, and those rare examples that hit the open market regularly sell for six-figure sums.
Back in 2016, the ‘Aqua Blue Vine’ jumpsuit worn onstage by Elvis during his 1974 U.S tour sold at Graceland Auctions for $325,000, setting a world-record price for any item of the Elvis clothing.
The upcoming Graceland sale also features several other items from the King of Rock and Roll’s extensive personal wardrobe.
They include a brown velvet suit and matching cape, estimated at $70,000-$80,000, and a red corduroy two-piece suit, estimated at $60,000-$70,000.
