Kaylah Walton
Graceland’s officials have raised doubts about the legitimacy of items auctioned by GWS Auctions, a company associated with Priscilla Presley.
Doubts About Authenticity of Elvis Items at Auction
Joel Weinshanker, a key player at Elvis Presley Enterprises, expressed skepticism about the genuineness of several artifacts, including a black grommet jacket he asserts belongs to Graceland’s private collection.
“We know there was only one made, and guess what? We have it in our archives,” Weinshanker mentioned during an interview at Elvis’ former residence in Memphis.
Supporting Graceland’s stance, NBC News saw the jacket and the purchase receipt.
GWS Auctions, located in California and under Brigitte Kruse‘s ownership, gained prominence for auctioning off Elvis memorabilia.
Kruse, who serves as Priscilla Presley’s power of attorney, has found herself in the midst of a controversy.
Priscilla recently filed a lawsuit alleging financial elder abuse against Kruse and three associates, claiming they swindled her out of $1 million.
Weinshanker also cast doubt on other items sold by GWS Auctions, such as a private jet and various jewelry pieces, some of which came with letters from Priscilla endorsing their authenticity.
These items supposedly belong to periods when Priscilla was not associated with Elvis, heightening suspicions.
Auction House Stands Firm on Elvis Items’ Authenticity
Kruse, defending her sales, affirmed that she firmly believes in the authenticity of her Elvis items.
She expressed frustration over Weinshanker not approaching her directly with his concerns.
“Graceland has my phone number,”Kruse pointed out.
“I’m just a phone call away.”
Weinshanker shared a text exchange with NBC News indicating his attempts to convey his worries to Kruse.
Despite these interactions, the realm of celebrity memorabilia continues to be riddled with counterfeits and forgeries, complicating the authentication process.
Elvis historian and collector Stephen Shutts emphasized the challenges collectors face.
“It’s an unsavory business,” he remarked.
“Regrettably, there are numerous unscrupulous individuals.”
The dispute extends to GWS Auctions’ prior sales, notably the 2023 auction of Elvis’ “lost jet.”
Kruse portrayed the jet as Elvis’s personal possession, tailor-made to his specifications.
However, the jet’s previous owner, Roy McKay, asserted he revamped its interior after buying it in 1980, contradicting GWS Auctions’ narrative.
Kruse acknowledged the vast records held by Graceland but argued that it’s improbable to have documented every item owned by Elvis.
“None of us were there,” she remarked. “So how can they definitively claim, ‘We have everything?’ It’s an impossibility.”
While the controversy persists, scrutiny remains on the authenticity of Elvis memorabilia, showcasing the intricacies and hurdles in the celebrity memorabilia market.
