Elvis Presley’s stage-worn “Blue Armadillo” jumpsuit was the undisputed highlight of a major auction at Graceland over the weekend.
The lot achieved $250,000, making it one of the most valuable Elvis jumpsuits ever sold at auction.
Elvis' Blue Armadillo suit is named for the pattern of overlapping scales on the shoulders
Elvis is known to have worn the suit eight times onstage between March and May 1975, during a tour of the southern states, and can be seen wearing it in a number of photographs.
This makes it one of the best documented examples on the market.
The auction house comments: "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.
"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."
Elvis began wearing jumpsuits in the early 1970s. Legend has it his costume department came up with the design after he split his trousers onstage.
The record remains $325,000, set for his 1974 “Aqua Blue Vine” suit in 2016.
A 14 karat gold and diamond ram’s head necklace was another highlight, realising $138,750.
It’s among the largest and most extravagant necklaces Elvis ever owned, weighing close to 300g.
In 1977 he gifted it to fiancee Ginger Adler, advising her to “Always wear it with something black.’”
Love Elvis? Click here for a stunning piece signed (twice) by the King himself.
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