Are Your Elvis Collectibles Worth Money?
In the ’80s and ’90s, it often felt like you couldn’t swing a blue suede shoe without hitting a new Elvis collectible. Elvis stamps, Elvis plates, Elvis coins … a truly motivated fan could decorate their entire home is Elvis items ordered from TV commercials alone.
But Elvis collectibles weren’t just about fun decor; they were often sold with the implication that they were collectors items and might go up significantly in value. If you played your cards right, many ads seemed to tease, you could eventually retire with the money you made selling that “Aloha from Hawaii” plate.
Thirty-plus years later, it seems like that mostly wasn’t true. Considering the large number of Elvis collectibles manufactured in that era, most of them are worth as much, or a bit less, than what you paid for them. But some limited edition items did go up in value, and one recent collectible is actually worth a few months’ car payments. So let’s go up to the attic, crack open some old cardboard boxes (watch out for spiders!) and check in with the value of those Elvis collectibles.
And remember, most of these prices are based on what people are selling these items for on eBay … but just because someone is selling them at that price, doesn’t necessarily mean anyone is buying them.
Elvis CD Collection
CD collectors might have a bit more luck than plate collectors, particularly if they snagged something rare, like the 1997 set of 54 CDs, housed in a miniature Graceland. It recently sold for $384 at auction, and Discogs, the definitive vinyl pricing website, values it at $1,413.04. The 30-CD Complete Elvis Presley Masters set typically goes for over $1000 on eBay if you have one of the 1,000 limited edition copies. A 1999 collection of 30 Elvis CDs, presented in a maroon velvet box, is valued by Discogs at minimum $46.76, maximum $150, and can currently be found on eBay going for prices ranging from $99 to $449.99. Though some of those prices sound pretty good, it’s also worth remembering that a 30 CD box set probably cost a lot to buy in the first place, so the return on investment might be a bit less sweet than it sounds.
Elvis Stamps
In 1992, the US Postal Service held a neat contest: voters could decide if a soon-to-be-created postage stamp honoring Elvis would showcase a painting of a young, pompadoured Elvis, or an older Elvis in his classic white rhinestone jumpsuit. 1.2 million people voted, going for younger Elvis in a landslide; when the stamps were finally released in 1993, they became the most popular commemorative stamps of all time. Perhaps you remember running out to buy a sheet and squirreling it away in hopes that it would appreciate; I know my family did.
However, that excitement does not translate into financial value. The stamps are currently valued at $2-3; an uncut mint condition sheet can sell for around $140 but you can also currently find a sheet for 40 on eBay going for $17.99.
Elvis VHS Collections
Though not quite as frequent as those plate ads, TV commercials for the Elvis Commemorative VHS Collection were also a TV staple, especially on channels showing older reruns. In fact, there were a number of Elvis VHS collections circulating in the early ’90s, including a Time-Life program where you would be sent a different Elvis movie every other month.
If you bought the special 18-tape MGM Home Video Ultimate Elvis VHS Collection, and kept it sealed in its guitar-shaped carrying case, you might be happy to know that it sold at pop culture auction house Julien’s for $448. An unsealed case with only eight used VHS tapes is currently selling on Etsy for $98. But other sealed sets more often sell in the neighborhood of $19.99. And if you actually dared take them out of the box and watch them…you’re probably better off just holding on to them and showing your grandkids when they ask how you entertained yourself back in the dark ages.
Elvis Presley Commemorative Coin
The Elvis Presley Marshall Islands commemorative coin, according to this 1993 ad, only cost $5 to purchase, so if you’re looking to sell yours, you’ll get back your initial investment and a little bit extra — they currently sell on eBay for between $6.99 and $69, depending on how close it is to mint condition and what kind of packaging its in. And if your coin has no packaging, and is in terrible condition? It is still legal tender in the Marshall Islands, so if you’re ever there, you can use it to buy yourself a bottle of Gatorade.
Elvis Funko Pop
Amazon
Funko Pop has a large line of Elvis figurines, and most of them can be purchased at big retailers like Wal-Mart or Amazon for about $12…except for a 1950s Elvis (known as “Elvis #02), released in 2011, which sells for prices between $600 and $1200 on eBay, and a glow-in-the-dark ’70s Elvis (known as Elvis #03), also released in 2011, which is worth around $1200 on eBay in mint condition. So if you have one, celebrate your good luck! $1200 can buy you a whole lot of peanut butter and banana sandwiches.
Remind
