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Offered is a luxurious "John Warden for Bagatelle" suede trench coat owned by Elvis Presley which he gifted to private investigator John O'Grady while performing in Las Vegas in 1973. Elvis was generous to a fault, legendarily, but he had special place in his heart for law enforcement. It was commonplace for police officers to present Elvis with badges and other police equipment because they knew about his affinity for them. Conversely, Elvis always tried to reciprocate, either personally or with his many philanthropic gestures that benefitted law enforcement entities.
The offered coat was given to private detective and former Los Angeles police officer John O'Grady, whose relationship with Elvis was much more than the usual cursory interaction resulting from police providing security at his concerts. John O’Grady referred to himself as “Hollywood’s No. 1 Private Eye” in his 1974 autobiography entitled O’Grady: The Life and Times of Hollywood’s No. 1 Private Eye in which he recounts details from his investigations in the 1960s and ’70s during his time on the Hollywood narcotics detail with the Los Angeles Police Department. John O’Grady’s career also included working as the bodyguard for Deep Throat star Linda Lovelace and helping Elvis win his paternity suit with Patricia Parker in 1970. A friend of Elvis and later Linda Thompson, John also assisted Elvis by approaching Red, Sonny and Dave to try and smooth relations after their dismissal in an attempt to discourage them from writing a tell-all book.
O'Grady eventually sold the trench coat to Elvis Museum owner Mike Moon, and the coat was in Moon's collection for nearly 35 years. O'Grady's signed March 24, 1981, letter on "John O'Grady Associates" letterhead reads "This is to certify under penalty of perjury that this suede coat was given to me by Elvis Presley off his back in Las Vegas in 1973."
Elvis can be seen wearing any number of trench coats during this period, and the offered example was right up his alley. There are even a few crush cigar tobacco leaves in one of the front pockets. The coat's intact collar label reads "John Warden for Bagatelle / Made in Canada." The coat measures 44 inches in length and presents with a small tear in the left breast pocket, several small stains and scuffs, one area of discoloration on the left shoulder. There is also one detached front button, but that button is in one of the lower pockets and could easily be reset in its proper location. The suede remains very supple to the touch. Excellent condition overall.