King of Rock And Roll Elvis Presley's Legendary Blue Suede Shoes Auctioned At A Shocking $150,000

The UK-based auction house Henry Aldridge and Son sold off Elvis Presley's iconic blue suede shoes for $150,000. These shoes, synonymous with the King of Rock and Roll, hold a significant place in music history.

"During his performance on the Steve Allen show on July 1, 1956, Elvis mentions wearing the shoes before singing "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You." In 1958, the night before Elvis left for the Army, he gave these shoes to a close friend & entourage member, Alan Fortas. The heel of each shoe is stamped 'Nunn-Bush', and the inside of each shoe is stamped 10-1/2, stating the shoe size. There is a lot of history wrapped up in these well-worn blue suede shoes, which are synonymous with the name Elvis Presley.," the Andrew Aldrige runned auction house said.

Auction and authenticity

The auction house highlighted the shoes' storied history, emphasising their connection to Presley. "Elvis mentions wearing the blue suede shoes before singing 'I Want You, I Need You, I Love You' and also mentions the blue suede shoes during the comedy skit with Andy Griffith during the show, it mentioned. 

To ensure the shoes' authenticity, the auction included an Elvis Presley Museum letter of authenticity, signed by Jimmy Velvet. Additionally, a letter from Alan Fortas, Presley's close friend and ranch foreman, provided further verification. Fortas' letter recounted his personal experiences with Elvis, including their time together in various films and the famous 1968 NBC "Comeback" special.

Fortas' recollection

Fortas shared, "The night before Elvis' army induction, we had an all-night party at Graceland. Afterwards, we went to the Rainbow roller rink. When we got home, Elvis gave away some of his clothes, including these blue suede shoes." This personal anecdote adds a layer of intimacy to the shoes' history, making them even more cherished by collectors.