Pensioner's Elvis shrine could make £18,000 at Bonhams

10:05am Thu 20th Nov 08:: written by Gareth McPherson

An Elvis fan who saw ‘The King’ 38 times in concert could make more than £18,000 when she sells off her treasured memorabilia at auction next week.

Maria Davies, 81, has had to give up her shrine to the late singer following a move to Maidenhead to be nearer to her family.

The rock legend’s suede jacket, signed LPs and Maria’s own photographs of Elvis are among the haul set to go under the hammer at Bonhams in Knightsbridge on Tuesday.

The former Merseysider was given the suede jacket by Elvis’ uncle, who let her ‘guard’ the gates of the star’s Graceland mansion on one of her many trips stateside. “I wore it with a white blouse,” she said. “Now I know why he gave it away – because the black rubbed off onto my clothes.”

A former Liverpool branch leader of the Elvis fan club, Maria made it to the front row at numerous shows with her sister Gladys, who died last year. She became a familiar face to Elvis, who she met personally twice, and was kissed by the singer every time he delved into the front of the crowd.

The first time they met the superstar was in 1970, when the sisters were invited backstage, Maria recalled. “My sister was standing there just looking at him and his teeth were on the same level as her eyes and she kept saying how absolutely gorgeous his teeth were,” she said.

Among the items up for the sale at the auction is an original 1955 poster that has Elvis at the bottom of the bill of a Memphis concert. Auctioneers believe it could fetch £7,000.

http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/news/article-8943-pensioner-s-elvis-shrine-could-make-18-000-at-bonhams/