1958 Typed Letter From Elvis Presley to Colonel Tom Parker – Typed by Presley Himself! -From The Trudy Forsher Collection

Offered is a typed letter with its carbon copy expressing amusing content and banter that was personally typed by Elvis prior to departure for his military duties. The letter, conveying Elvis’ good humor, comes with a letter from Byron Raphael, who worked in the offices of Elvis and the Colonel in the 1950s, that reads in part:

One of my most vivid memories took place in our office in the Administration Building at Paramount Pictures during the production of “King Creole.” It was March, 1958, shortly before Elvis was to report to the U.S. Army. It was a small office and we were sitting around when the door opened and Elvis walked in. He asked Trude, who was Colonel and Elvis’s secretary and promotion coordinator, if she would please type a letter to Colonel, or “Admiral” as Elvis called him. Then he said something like, “naw, I wanna do it myself.” So Trude got up from her desk and Elvis took her seat. He picked up some paper, rolled it into the typewriter, and began typing his message to Colonel. It was funny seeing Elvis Presley pecking away at the typewriter. His knees came up high behind the typewriter because Trude was petite and he was tall. Her desk didn’t fit him very well. This was a sight we didn’t see often because Elvis seldom typed or wrote letters on his own. Trude usually did it for him. But this was a goodbye letter to Colonel since Elvis was leaving for the Army.

 The letter that Elvis painstakingly typed himself that afternoon, albeit a goodbye letter of sorts, reveals a cheeky tone that reads: “Dear Admiral, Thanks foryour [sic] letter. I have sent the cables your [sic] requested. I sure appreciate all you were doing in looking after ourbusiness [sic] while I am booked for Uncle Sam. This sureis [sic] a longtouryou [sic] sent me on. I am so sorry the commissions are so small on this engagement.” Even in the face of civilian military service, Elvis maintains his sense of humor. The letter and carbon copy measure 11 by 8 1/2 inches and are accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Graceland Authenticated (quoted here). Near Mint condition.