Elvis Presley’s personal Bible, a cherished item full of the late rock legend’s spiritual reflections, is ready to go under the hammer with a starting bid of £23,000 ($30,000). This vital piece of music history was discovered by Elvis’s cousin, Patsy Presley, along together with his father, Vernon Presley, as they sorted through his belongings following his death in 1977.
The auction, managed by GWS Auctions, is scheduled to go continue to exist May 25. The Bible is notable for its gold-embossed cover featuring Elvis Aaron Presley’s name, and for having pages full of bookmarked and underlined passages that held special meaning for the ‘Blue Suede Shoes’ singer.
One such highlighted passage comes from the book of Job, 31:24-26: “If I even have made gold my hope, or have said to the wonderful gold, Thou art my confidence; If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and since mine hand has gotten much; If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness.”
Accompanying this remarkable testament to The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll’s interest in Christian scripture is a handwritten letter from Patsy Presley. The letter provides context to the Bible’s discovery and its journey through the years.
Patsy recounts: “Shortly after Elvis’ passing, my uncle Vernon (Elvis’ dad) and I went up into Elvis’ bedroom at Graceland to organise and pack a lot of his personal belongings. This Holy Bible was certainly one of three that Elvis had on his night table. After packing them, Uncle Vernon had me take them home for safekeeping and eventually gave them to me.”
Elvis often turned to the Bible for solace and inspiration, and it was a continuing presence in his life. He was known to say a prayer before every performance, highlighting the deep connection he had together with his faith.
This auction provides fans and collectors a rare opportunity to own a deeply personal piece of Elvis Presley’s life, one which reveals his spiritual side and the private musings of one of the crucial famous figures in rock and roll history.
