A gold, gemstone and diamond lion's head pendant led a sale of Elvis Presley memorabilia at Graceland on August 14, achieving $82,500.
The lot was specially designed for the singer and was worn by him on a number of occasions, including his meeting with President Nixon in 1970.
|
Elvis had sent a rambling letter to Nixon earlier in the year asking to be made a Federal agent.
He wrote: "The drug culture, the hippie elements, the SDS [the radical organisation Students for a Democratic Society], Black Panthers, etc. do not [underlined] consider me as their enemy or as they call it "the establishment".
"I call it American and I love it."
The bemused president (who recognised a good PR opportunity) invited him to the White House, officially made him an honorary agent and presented him with a DEA badge.
The two also discussed working on an anti-drugs album to be called High on Life, which fortunately never materialised.
A 1977 Cadillac Seville, the car Elvis drove the day he died, sold for $81,250.
It was later given to his fiance Ginger Alden by his father Vernon.
We have this incredible signed photograph of Elvis taken during his army years.
Please sign up to our free newsletter to receive exciting news about music memorabilia auctions.