Elvis' pill bottle goes on the auction block

[Lunar Loops]

It's true, you really can put anything up for auction and as long as it belonged to someone famous someone somewhere will be prepared to pay a ridiculous amount of money for it. This from The Memphis Commercial Appeal website:

Elvis' pill bottle goes on the auction block
By Christopher Blank
Contact
June 14, 2007

A prescription drug bottle and a gold-plated pistol once owned by Elvis Presley are highlights of a celebrity memorabilia auction in Beverly Hills on Saturday.
The items, part of Julien's Auctions Entertainment Sale, are among 15 objects connected to the legendary singer.
But the pill bottle -- which until recently contained about 12 assorted, discolored pills -- has drawn attention for its macabre connotations.

Years of heavy prescription drug use contributed to Presley's untimely death at the age of 42.
The auction, which also will be held live on eBay, comes as Graceland in Memphis prepares to mark the 30th anniversary of Elvis' death on Aug. 16.
Lot 284A is an undated bottle of the antihistamine and decongestant drug Naldecon, prescribed by George Nichopoulos, who was Presley's personal physician from 1970 until his death. "Dr. Nick," as he was known, wrote 199 prescriptions for the singer in the eight months leading up to his death.
"The bottle is getting most of the attention," said auction house president Darren Julien. "We'd planned to sell the bottle with the pills, but the Los Angeles Police Department told us it would be a federal crime to do it, so sad to say we had to remove the pills."
The pill bottle, along with an inscribed 1953 Humes High School yearbook, originated from the collection of Memphis television host and Elvis torch bearer George Klein.
"About 10 years ago I sold some old memorabilia in order to buy my house in Cordova," said Klein on Wednesday. "I guess now they're coming back up for resale. I had no idea they were going to auction until somebody called me this morning."
Klein declined to say how he acquired the pill bottle, but said that he's writing a book that will shed new light on Elvis' addiction to prescription drugs. Klein adds that Nichopoulos, who had his medical license permanently suspended by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners in 1995 for overprescription, is also writing a book.
"I think what this auction says is that Elvis' popularity is sustaining itself," Klein said. "It's amazing what people are putting up for bid these days."
For his part, Klein says he still has about 40 items that may one day hit the auction block: a shirt, some watches, a ring, and photos.
The pill bottle is estimated to go for $2,000 to $4,000. On the upper end is a gold-plated, .360 caliber Walther P.P.K. semi-automatic pistol, with simulated ivory grips that Presley gave to actor Jack Lord of the television series "Hawaii Five-0" in 1973. It has a $10,000-$20,000 estimated going price.