Best-selling poetry book annotated by Elvis Presley sells for £19,500
A book of poetry with notes scribbled inside by Elvis Presley including "God is love" has sold for £19,500. The Prophet, which was written by Lebanese-US poet Kahlil Gibran in 1923, explores the human condition. An all-time best-seller, it has inspired artists and musicians for a century.
Elvis, who died in 1977 aged 42, owned several copies and often noted his thoughts on the pages. Now this rare prize has been snapped up by a private collector from London book dealer Peter Harrington.
On a page discussing love, Elvis wrote: "When you're not in love, your [sic] not alive. God is love. These paths are not always clear to us. But like God Himself, these things reveal themselves."
And on a section where Gibran discusses music, Elvis said: "A singer can sing his songs but they must have an ear to receive the song. You have within yourself all possibilities. To unlock all answers that plague one's inner heart. God will give you the knowledge if you only seek it."
Elvis had given the copy, which was sold last week, to his karate teacher and close friend Ed Parker.