Elvis' hair sells for US$15,000

A sample of hair from Elvis Presley is displyed at the Leslie Hindman auction house October 15, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois. The hair which has an auction estimate of $8-12 thousand is believed to be from Elvis' Army haircut. -- PHOTO: AFP

CHICAGO - A clump of hair believed to have been trimmed from Elvis Presley's head when he joined the Army in 1958 has sold for US$15,000 (S$20,908) at a Chicago auction house.

I enjoy kissing each inch of you

Also among the 200 Elvis-related items up for grabs at the Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago on Sunday was a shirt that once belonged to the King which sold for US$52,000, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Other items included scarves, photos from the reception of Presley's 1967 wedding to Priscilla, Christmas cards he sent and lots of records. Elvis dolls and Elvis Pez dispensers numbered among the memorabilia.

All the items had belonged to the late Gary Pepper, who ran a fan club and was a friend. Pepper, who had cerebral palsy, died in 1980. -- AP