Auction Connected To Priscilla Presley Selling Fake Items?
In a shocking turn of events, an auction associated with Priscilla Presley faces accusations of selling fake merchandise. The allegations come from Graceland itself. According to the home of Elvis Presley’s memorabilia, some items auctioned off at this specific house are actually housed in Graceland.
Here is what the controversy is all about.
Graceland Accuses Auction House Of Inauthenticity
Graceland has made some pretty big accusations about GWS Auctions. This is a notable auction house that sells Elvis Presley memorabilia and is connected to Priscilla Presley. According to Graceland, some items GWS auctioned off are inauthentic because they are actually on display in Graceland.
Joel Weinshanker, managing partner of Elvis Presley Enterprises, spoke to NBC News about the situation. He said the auction house was selling one of Elvis’s old jackets. It is a black grommet jacket, a one-of-a-kind item worn by Elvis in 1972. There is one big problem here. The jacket is hanging up in Graceland’s private collection.
“We know there was only one made, and guess what? We have it in our archives,” Weinshanker said. He then showed NBC News both the black jacket and the receipt for its purchase that sits with the jacket in Graceland.
This isn’t just a one-time question of authenticity either. Weinshanker, who oversees the largest collection of Elvis memorabilia, said that GWA auctioned other items, including a private jet and several pieces of jewelry. Priscilla Presley offered a letter vouching for their authenticity.
Priscilla Presley In Battle With GWS Auction House
It seems strange that Priscilla Presley offered up the letter of authenticity for items that she didn’t possess. However, it turns out that Presley and GWS owner Brigitte Kruse have begun a battle of their own.
Kruce sued Presley last month for cutting her out of some lucrative business deals. This came after Krtuce helped Priscilla who was dealing with some financial problems. Priscilla filed a counter lawsuit, accusing Kruce of cheating her out of $1 million in a “financial elder abuse scheme.”
As for the items that GWS auctioned off that are still housed at Graceland, Kruce said she stands behind her Elvis items. This is even though the items are physically still at Graceland. She said she didn’t know why Weinshanker didn’t contact her directly about his concerns.
For his part, Weinshanker shared a text message exchange with Kruce, which shows he did reach out to her despite her claims he didn’t. According to NBC News, several people with ties to Elvis have passed off bogus items to auction houses.
What are your thoughts on the auction house selling what appears to be fake Elvis Presley memorabilia? What about the elder abuse claims that Priscilla has filed against them? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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Having personally come from a family of auctioneers with auction houses dating back to over 200 years, I am not surprised in the least. Often it’s items of an Estate that are taken/syphoned from the official lots and sold and pocketed by a member of the auction house, or items are switched with fakes/imitations or outright stolen. Other times, and what I’ve witnessed at a very well known Beverly Hills auction house, some items of substantial value are intentionally misrepresented and under appraised so the auction owner or upper level manager can have a friend or partner acquire the valuables for pennies on the dollar to resell to collectors for 100X or more. In the case of Elvis’ personally owned items, it wouldn’t be the first time people claim to be selling authentics while full knowing they are not.