An auction house that sells Elvis Presley memorabilia and has ties to Priscilla Presley is under fire from Graceland executives who question the authenticity of some of its items.
Joel Weinshanker, managing partner of Elvis Presley Enterprises, recently expressed to NBC News his concerns about GWS Auctions — the auction house owned by Bridget Kruse — who is one of four individuals named in Priscilla's lawsuit filed earlier this week . It alleges financial abuse of the elderly, writes The Hollywood Reporter.
Weinshanker told the outlet that he first became suspicious of the auction house when he noticed a black brocade jacket said to have been worn by the legendary singer in 1972 listed for sale. However, he claimed the jacket was hanging in Graceland's private collection.
"We know only one copy was made and it's in the archives," says Weinschanker. NBC News noted that she visited Elvis' mansion in Memphis and saw the jacket and the receipt for it.
Among the other memorabilia being sold by GWS Auctions that Graceland management is questioning are a slew of Elvis jewelry and his private jet, which Elvis' estate claims he never actually flew and only owned for a few months .
Graceland executives said they were also concerned about some items being sold by GWS Auctions that were accompanied by letters written by Priscilla stating they were authentic. Elvis Presley Enterprises said some of the items would have been owned by the musician after he and Priscilla divorced (they were married from 1967 to 1972).
"If they haven't spoken in person for months and months and months, how does she [Priscilla] know what Elvis did and didn't do?" Weinshanker told the media.
He also notes that over the years, Elvis' father, Vernon Presley, kept detailed records of all of the singer's finances.
"Since he had some trouble with the law early in his adult life, he (Vernon) kept everything, every receipt," explains Weinshanker. "You can come to us and ask, 'What was [Elvis] doing on that day in 1962?' We [Graceland] only know what he did by how he spent his money."
Kruse previously told NBC News that while she acknowledges the family's meticulous record-keeping, she finds it hard to believe that every item Elvis owned was documented. I BGNES
