1956 Elvis Presley Enterprises “EMENEE” Six-String Toy Guitar with Original Box

This 1950's offering from the extensive “Elvis Presley Enterprises” line of merchandise is the visual centerpiece to many advanced Elvis collections. The guitar has a faux wood marbleized body and neck design with a white facing, though this example is a much lighter version of this plastic body. The facing for the head is molded in the same black plastic as the molded-fret fingerboard, and it has the addition of a white and red text stamping that reads, "Emenee Official Elvis Presley Guitar." The body facing has two kidney-shaped color photo labels: one is a portrait of Elvis with a printed signature; the other pictures a droopy-eared pup, with the words "You ain't nothin' but a hound dog," and a heart that is inscribed, "Love Me Tender." The guitar also still maintains its period “strap,” a braided brown and yellow length of rope.

The instrument comes in a custom cardboard case with a printed alligator skin finish, though the original plastic carrying handle is missing. Inside the case lid's interior is a color image of the King, catching him in the act of singing, strumming, and (of course) gyrating. Printed text in the same area reads, "Emenee Musical Toys / Easy to Play - No Lessons Needed / Elvis Presley Guitar/ © 1956, Elvis Presley Enterprises.". The fact that a piece of white tape is placed by Eminee over the text “With Automatic Chord Player and Book of Songs” on the inside cover indicates that this guitar was most-likely made a little later in the “Elvis Presley Enterprises” run during the late 1950s—the company may have stopped including the booklet and chord player with the guitar for cost concerns. The guitar measures 31 by 11 inches, and the case measures 12 3/4 by 33 by 4 inches. The guitar presents with moderate wear from heavy use, with wear to both stickers. The case is missing its handle and also presents with areas of paper loss on Elvis' image. There is also wear along several of the edges. A portion of the "Love Me Tender" sticker is missing. Excellent condition overall.