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| Elvis 'If I Can Dream' boots fetch £29,500 at auction | Elvis 'If I Can Dream' boots fetch £29,500 at auction |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A pair of white boots worn by Elvis Presley during arguably his most famous TV performance have been bought by a UK collector for £29,500. | |
| The King wore the size-11 Verde boots while singing If I Can Dream during his '68 Comeback Special, broadcast on NBC. | |
| Elvis recorded the song two months after the assassination of Martin Luther King and the lyrics include quotes from the civil rights leader. | Elvis recorded the song two months after the assassination of Martin Luther King and the lyrics include quotes from the civil rights leader. |
| The boots went under the hammer at Henry Aldridge auctioneers in Devizes. | The boots went under the hammer at Henry Aldridge auctioneers in Devizes. |
| Elvis wore a black leather outfit for most of the famous performance before changing into a white suit and shoes for the finale. | Elvis wore a black leather outfit for most of the famous performance before changing into a white suit and shoes for the finale. |
| Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said Elvis had recorded the song "in several incredibly passionate takes". | Auctioneer Andrew Aldridge said Elvis had recorded the song "in several incredibly passionate takes". |
| He said: "To show producer Steve Binder his performance was so staggering it seemed almost like a religious experience. | He said: "To show producer Steve Binder his performance was so staggering it seemed almost like a religious experience. |
| "Out on the floor with a hand mic, Elvis fell to his knees. For a moment, it appeared like he was back in church, singing the gospel songs of his youth. | "Out on the floor with a hand mic, Elvis fell to his knees. For a moment, it appeared like he was back in church, singing the gospel songs of his youth. |
| "These boots represent a tangible link to this truly iconic moment in showbusiness history. | "These boots represent a tangible link to this truly iconic moment in showbusiness history. |
| "If I Can Dream was the closing number of one of the greatest moments in entertainment history and is regarded by Elvis collectors as one of the 'Holy Grails'." | "If I Can Dream was the closing number of one of the greatest moments in entertainment history and is regarded by Elvis collectors as one of the 'Holy Grails'." |
| The boots were sold along with a handwritten letter from stage director Charlie Hodge, who appeared with Elvis on the NBC show. | The boots were sold along with a handwritten letter from stage director Charlie Hodge, who appeared with Elvis on the NBC show. |
| Mr Hodge wrote in his letter: "These white Verde brand boots are the boots that Elvis wore on stage on his 1968 NBC TV special. | Mr Hodge wrote in his letter: "These white Verde brand boots are the boots that Elvis wore on stage on his 1968 NBC TV special. |
| "He wore these in the closing number of the show, If I Can Dream, while he was wearing a white suit. Elvis later gave me these boots." | "He wore these in the closing number of the show, If I Can Dream, while he was wearing a white suit. Elvis later gave me these boots." |
| Some of Elvis Presley's belongings that have previously sold at auction: | Some of Elvis Presley's belongings that have previously sold at auction: |
| Elvis's pink 1961 Cadillac sold for £21,000 in 2006 | Elvis's pink 1961 Cadillac sold for £21,000 in 2006 |
| A strand of Elvis' hair, saved by his personal barber, fetched £1,055 in 2009 | A strand of Elvis' hair, saved by his personal barber, fetched £1,055 in 2009 |
| His bible sold for £59,000 in 2012 | His bible sold for £59,000 in 2012 |
| Presley's record player sold for £4,400 in 2013 | Presley's record player sold for £4,400 in 2013 |
| The first record Elvis ever made sold for £198,000 in January | The first record Elvis ever made sold for £198,000 in January |
| And two items that failed to sell: | And two items that failed to sell: |
| A pair of soiled underpants with a reserve price of £10,000 in 2012 | A pair of soiled underpants with a reserve price of £10,000 in 2012 |
| A tooth said to have been pulled out of Elvis's mouth after an injury also failed to sell on eBay in 2003 | A tooth said to have been pulled out of Elvis's mouth after an injury also failed to sell on eBay in 2003 |