Go to main content

Poster For Sale

May 29, 2020 | Other

Up for auction at Heritage Auctions is a rare 1956 advertising flyer. 

From the auction site:

Elvis Presley Spring 1956 Two-Date Ohio Concert Handbill. A very early Elvis Presley advertising flyer for four concerts in Ohio when "Heartbreak Hotel" was the #1 single and Elvis Presley the #1 album in the country. A terrific design using the King's famous "tonsil shot" photo, which blessedly takes up ¾ of the handbill.

"Elvis Presley Plus 8 All-Star Acts," the flyer proclaims. We're sure Colonel Tom Parker wasn't involved in designing this, due to the latter five words being much bigger than Elvis's name. But this very rare item – some long-time Elvis authorities we contacted had never seen it before – has so much going for it. Nothing's missing: the great picture, the venue names, the dates and concert times, the ticket-buying locations including addresses, and the ticket prices. It's all there. With the two cities being only 70 miles apart, it's a good guess that one promoter handled both shows, and used joint advertising. He couldn't have known in advance how lucky he was to get the newly anointed King of Rock 'n' Roll for four concerts in his two mid-sized Midwestern cities, with a #1 album and single to boot.

Great provenance on this piece, which originated with a woman who owned a record store in the area which sold tickets to the shows. Needless to say, the first time Heritage has ever offered one for sale. We wish there were comparable ones made for other Elvis shows in 1956, but usually nothing was needed... he would always sell out in an instant.

Measures 5 ¾" x 10 ½" and grades to Very Good Plus condition. COA from Heritage Auctions. 

More Information: The thin-paper handbill has some very natural overall toning, plus a darker toning strip along right side starting small at the top and widening as it heads down, but touches none of the photo or lettering. Also a little additional light browning in bottom left and center areas, and some light creasing at the bottom as well. A very slight triangular surface impression below the "A" in "Acts," and a faint diagonal line in upper right corner which is not a crease, so may be a slight printer's flaw.

Source:ElvisDayByDay.com