This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/16/2023
Offered is a swatch cut from the personal clothing of Elvis Presley and included with copies of his 1971 compilation LP Elvis: The Other Sides - Worldwide Gold Award Hits Vol. 2. For the initial run of the album's release, one of these swatches was included in every boxed set. The custom, pictorial envelope promises "Something from ELVIS' wardrobe for you." The offered white shirt swatch emanates from the collection of Don Wardell, and a copy of his letter accompanies.
Colonel Tom Parker was always looking for new promotional items to drive sales, and with these swatches, he essentially invented what is the predecessor to the modern "chase card," those cards put into trading card sets that have autographs, pieces of baseball bats and swatches of players' uniforms. The Colonel had 100s of pieces of Elvis' clothing sent to RCA with strict instructions describing how they were to be cut up. The promotion was a huge success, especially for an album that contained mostly "b-sides" of previous singles and no new material. The swatch measures 3 x 2 inches, and the original envelope measures 5 3/8 x 3 3/8 inches. With the exception of some very mild age-related toning to the envelope, this swatch presents in stunning Near Mint to Mint condition.
This lot has a Reserve Price that has not been met.