Go to main content

Elvis' Oldest Known Signature For Sale

March 09, 2008 | Other
Elvis oldest known signature is for sale through Guernseys and eBay. It was found on a checkout card from his school library for the book "English Fairy Tales" by Flora Annie Steel, when he was in seventh grade in Tupelo, Mississippi. The starting bid is US $45,000.00, while the signature is set to pselll for an estimated US $90,000.00 to US $100,000.00. A collector obtained the Library card several years ago from Bud Glass and Russ Howe, and it is that collector who is now offering the signed library card for sale in this auction.
Background

Two longtime Elvis memorabilia collectors made the find of a lifetime: the oldest known complete Elvis signature. It was written on a checkout card from his school library when he was in seventh grade in Tupelo, Mississippi. The collectors, Bud Glass and Russ Howe, were introduced to a former librarian at the junior high in Tupelo through a mutual acquaintance. Glass has signed letters of authenticity from the former librarian, who found the card in the book "English Fairy Tales." The librarian, who got permission to search the school library for other cards after she found this one, put it in her scrapbook and kept it for over 40 years. The story is even more piquant because the wing of the Milam School in Tupelo that contained the old library burned in February 1979. If the librarian hadn't saved the signed card in her scrapbook, it would have gone up in smoke.
The next earliest complete Elvis signature is from when he was in high school in the early 1950's. Glass also located three people who had checked out the book at the same time as Elvis.
Source:ElvisMatters
Jerome wrote on March 09, 2008
see, it even comes with PAttie Barrow's autograph..
Bestoftherest8301 wrote on March 09, 2008
As a long time collector of Charlie Shipman memorabilia, I really don't want to pay a $100,000 fee for his signature, the most I've paid so far is 75c.
epexpress wrote on March 09, 2008
Looks like Pattie (Pat) read it twice.
Jerome wrote on March 09, 2008
although she was quick returning it..
mak1965 wrote on March 09, 2008
See Jimmy Vaughn Also!! Maybe read it to Lil' Stevie Ray??
Jerome wrote on March 09, 2008
Jerry West should had returned it sooner so Minnie would had a chance to prepare her exam. shame on you..
Viva wrote on March 10, 2008
Hang on a minute, are you guys suggesting that this isn't genuine? I was suitably impressed with this story, but if someone out there knows any different...
Jerome wrote on March 10, 2008
Isn't it that Elvis not only used John Burrows but also Pattie Barrows?..
Jumpin Jehosaphat wrote on March 10, 2008
do they get an extra $1.98 because Jerry West is included?
MIAMIGUY wrote on March 10, 2008
whoever signed elvis presley on nov 18 also signed pattie barrows on nov 15, the P-I-E-S is the same. also on april 4 pattie barrows took the book out with a different signature and signed it as pat barrows.
Jim Semple wrote on March 10, 2008
Of course its a fake. Look at the ''B'' in the surname on Nov 15th, Oct 6th and April 4th - its the same person who has wrote that. Same with ''P''.
Jumpin Jehosaphat wrote on March 12, 2008
That signature couldnt get you a ride on the Memphis trolly, and who's to authenticate it if there is nothing else to compare it to. But I heard you can buy a bridge in New York city i think its called the Brooklyn Bridge there is always a buyer for that, then there is always a buyer for everything.
Devon wrote on March 13, 2008
I was lucky i got Elvis to sighn three differnt things for me how much will you give me for them!!!