A piano that belonged to Elvis Presley is being auctioned off online to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the rock `n` roll legend`s death, an official from the selling company said Friday. ADVERTISEMENT



"The starting price is 250,000 dollars but we hope to sell it for somewhere around two million dollars," Bernie Chase of Symbolic Collection, the company selling the piano on the auction website eBay, told AFP.

The online auction of the white Knabe baby grand began this week and runs until August 18.

According to Symbolic Collection, Elvis bought the piano from a Memphis, Tennessee music store in 1957.

It sat in the music room at Elvis`s Graceland mansion for 12 years until 1969, when it was replaced by a gold-leaf piano that Priscilla Presley gave her then husband.

The piano features in photographs taken when Elvis opened the doors of Graceland to photographers in 1965 for the "first and only time," according to the company selling the piano.

The successful bidder will not only get the piano but also a certificate of authenticity and the baby grand`s matching white bench.

Elvis Presley died on August 16, 1977.

A week of events to mark the anniversary of Elvis`s death is due to begin on Saturday at Graceland.
sections: Culture