About the record: This is the low-budget I Got Lucky album, CAS-2533. It was released in the USA by PICKWICK / CAMDEN in December 1975. The cover has been splitted at the sides, to make it suitable for framing and ready to display. This specific record was sold at an original price of 2.49$. By taking a real close look, you can still see the marks of writing the price onto the frontcover, as well as you can see marks of the former owner´s name (C. Allister) being written on the cover, maybe to identify it as reserved. The writings had been erased, but the marks still remain.

This album was purchased by a close and very reliable collector friend of mine at an european record fair several years ago, together with another signed album, wich still remains in his collection. Both albums had been bought without COA, but over the years, a couple of well aware and very active collectors had a look at these signatures and stated their originality.

About the signatures: The album was signed and dedicated by Elvis on the front reading: To Charlotte - All my best - Elvis Presley, while the back of the sleeve simply reads: To Charlotte - Thanks - Elvis. It can´t be found often, that Elvis only signed with his first name, what makes this item a true rarity. I haven´t seen anything similar. Both sides are clearly signed with a stylograph in light blue ink.

Charlotte Allister was an elderly lady, driving a wheel-chair. She must have been an extremely importunate person in getting her autographs. However, Charlotte managed to get backstage, where Elvis signed the album. It´s very likely, that she got the signatures during Elvis' December engagement at the Las Vegas Hilton in 1975, right after this record was released. Maybe Charlotte even purchased the album at a concession stand at the Hilton. Even though Elvis always had a close relationship with his fans, he was surely much more relaxed in Vegas doing such things, than he was on tour.

Identifying authentic signatures: is always very difficult. There are several things that made me believe that this specific item is indeed authentic. The marks from writing on the sleeve is the first and to me, the most important point, as no one recognized this before. The lining of the autographs is typical. To my opinion it is unlikely, that somebody who is faking signatures would use a stylograph and not, for example, a ballpen or a felt-tip pen, wich both would produce a much more clear signing. It appears to be very unlikely, that someone would simply sign Elvis and not Elvis Presley, except Elvis himself. You should always learn as much as possible about such an item before you decide to buy it. I don´t want say that you should always buy such an item from a esteemed person, but you should also take a close look at the person who is selling the signature. A big name is not always a guarentee, as well as a COA is not, too. Internet auctions makes it easy to find autographs, but as several unscrupulous persons are well trained in faking Elvis´ lining, there is also a great chance to recieve a counterfeit instead of an authentic signature. Do you feel that you made a great deal, when you purchased a faked autograph for just 100$? You should also notice, that Elvis´ relatives have been very aware in imitating Elvis´ lining. Back in the 70´s, people have been fooled when they asked RCA Hamburg for an Elvis autograph. These people recieved a postcard signed by anybody but not by Elvis. I have seen such autographs being auctioned on the Internet. Maybe the original owners still believe that they have an authentic autograph.

Please remember! The only way to be sure to own a 100% guarenteed authentic autograph is when you recieved it by Elvis in person!

Pricing such items: is almost as difficult as identifying it as authentic, as prices vary widely for so many reasons. The older one signature, the greater its value. Prices vary drastically, depending on what kind of item the signature can be found. A signature on a simple piece of paper, for example, sells at lower prices than a signed record, than a signed contract and so on. The historical importance of the item is another fact. Prices also vary drastically depending on what was written. Simple signatures sell at lower prices than dedications, than personal notes, than letters and so on. I have seen signed albums being offered at auctions at 2.200$ and more. I have seen signed photographs being offered at 3.500$ set sale or at minimum bids from 1.400$ to 1.900$ by professionell autograph dealers and auctioneers. Other notable collectors value such items around 500 to 1.500$. Internet auctions are not a standard to me, but I´m also aware of people picking original autographs only at prices less than 100$. I had the luck to be invited by Joe Esposito, while he was in Germany, promoting Elvis The Concert a few years ago, to meet him and talk with him about collecting Elvis items. Joe told me that autographs with a certain guarentee of being authentic, usually sell at 900$.