Fans of the “King” have been collecting Elvis merchandise for decades and posters from his live performances are some of the rarest and most valuable. Let's take look at some of the posters of Elvis Presley below!

For those collecting concert posters, the top three names are Bob Dylan, The Beatles, and Elvis Presley. Elvis became famous for his energized interpretations and provocative live performances. From his humble beginnings in Tupelo, Mississippi, to the height of fame and being crowned the “King of Rock and Roll”. Elvis Presley became a household name and a cultural icon. Memorial Day Special

Elvis Presley at the High Sierra.

The first poster is from a special 3am performance on Memorial Day at the High Sierra Theatre at Lake Tahoe. The poster is a handmade cardboard cutout measuring 28” x 44”.

The retro Elvis font looks awesome but the hand-painted text below gives it the vintage look. And you know the sequins were shining bright under the house lights for that one. This poster sold at auction for $4,500.00! 

A Show for Mom.

Mothers Day SpecialNext up, we have a poster from a Mothers Day performance on Sunday, May 13th, 1973, another special 3 am performance at the High Sierra Theatre.

This time, the performance was dedicated to his late mother, Gladys Presley. All proceeds from the show were donated to Barton Memorial hospital’s Cardiac and ICU wings.

The poster was made on heavy artboard and measures 22” x 28”. This particular poster was most likely made for display inside the casino only, knowing the event would sell out fast.

Comeback shows.

International HotelThe next poster we will look at was made for a run of the show at the International Hotel in Las Vegas in 1969.

In the late 60s, Elvis was struggling to stay relevant in Rock and Roll’s rapidly changing landscape. Up to this point, he hadn’t performed live on stage in years and needed a career boost. This run of performances was very successful and marked the beginning of his comeback.

The poster itself features Elvis’s name in Vegas-like lights as it would appear on a grand marquee. Elvis would go on to perform 600 more shows in Las Vegas and sold out every one.

Early Elvis Poster.

Elvis Presley WSM Grand Ole OpreyThe last poster we will look at is considered to be one of the rarest pieces of Elvis Presley merchandise known to still exist. The poster was printed to advertise the “All Star Jamboree In Person” in Raleigh, NC on May 19th, 1955.

This rare piece of Rock and Roll history was from very early on in Elvis’s career, and his name is featured near the bottom of the bill. This 13.75” x 21.75” boxing style window card was printed in red and blue on cardstock by Hatch Show Print in Nashville, TN. The last remaining copy of this poster sold raw for $42,500.00!

These are just a few simple posters from the career of an artist that went on to become the face of newly popular Rock and Roll, and ultimately a cultural icon. Presley would eventually become the best-selling solo artist of all time, and be inducted to multiple music halls of fame. His willingness to explore musical influence across color lines during a transformative era in race relations was truly unique for the period and helped break through barriers by bringing African-American music to a broader audience. These are some of the reasons Elvis merchandise is special and why people will be collecting for years to come.

     For more information on collecting concert posters, check out our one-of-a-kind Concert Poster Price Guide!