Presented is a 10-inch RCA Reference Recording 45 RPM acetate of Elvis Presley's song "Are You Lonesome Tonight." This particular copy belonged to Elvis personally, and it only exists because while he was in the process of throwing away several dozen acetates at Graceland, Harold Loyd saved a few from the trash bin and gave several to Jimmy Velvet, who happened to be on hand, and several to the Pritchett girls Donna and her sister, including the offered acetate for "Are You Lonesome Tonight."
Jimmy Velvet, the Elvis world's own Zelig, was not only there to witness the acetates' salvation secured, he had actually been at the studio when the song was being recorded by Elvis! His accompanying letter details the coincidence and the acetates being saved:
This 45 rpm acetate"Are You Lonesome Tonight" was recorded by Elvis Presley at RCA Studio B in Nashville, Tennessee on April 4th, 1960. I was at the session which was just shy of two weeks after Elvis was discharged from the Army on March 20, 1960. It was a great session, and I remember it well. A couple years later while I was talking with Elvis' cousin, Harold Loyd, also Gate Keeper at Graceland, Elvis told Harold to take a stack of acetates to the gate and give them to fans. He gave me four or five of them and gave Donna Pritchett a couple, too. (Donna is Elvis' cousin and daughter of Nash Presley, Vernon's sister.) This incredible acetate is one of those given to Donnna that day and is a fabulous piece of rock-n-roll history.
Below the mounted acetate in the framed display is a plaque that reads "ELVIS PRESLEY'S PERSONAL ACETATE FROM GRACELAND "ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT." Additionally, on the reverse of the framed display is a snapshot of Donna Presley presenting the acetates to a collector in the 1990s. Upon close inspection, the orange grease pencil "X" on the label of the offered acetate can be discerned on the acetate that Donna is holding in this photo.
The acetate measures 10 inches in diameter and is framed to an overall size of 18 x 21 inches. It presents permanently adhered to the matting of the framed display. It's possible it could be removed by a professional, but there will at minimum be remaining adhesive on the reverse. The front of the record presents with moderate scuffing and scratches. Good condition.