Lost Elvis photos turn up in Glenfield

Carolyn Gibson is a magnet for lost Elvis memorabilia.

Two sets of holiday snaps taken at the late singer's Graceland estate have mistakenly made their way into the hands of the Glenfield author, best known for her book the Kiwi KISS Diet.

Though the photos were taken a decade apart, some are almost identical.

Ms Gibson would love to give them back to their owners.

"I'd be devastated if I had lost them," she says.

"It's crazy, I'm not even an Elvis fan. I just seem to be a beacon for Elvis photos."

Ms Gibson found the first set of photos on the road outside her house 10 years ago.

There are about 10 shots of Elvis' grave and Graceland, and some of New York, including the twin towers.

The pack was addressed to 'Michelle' and dated December 1997 but none of the photos have people in them and no contact address or phone number is attached.

After a four-month search Ms Gibson stored the photos safely.

Since the 30th anniversary of Elvis' death was upcoming, she decided to look again for the owner.

But not before a startling coincidence.

Ms Gibson sent a set of recent holiday snapshots to the United States to be bound into a special album. When they came back, two albums of Graceland pictures had been mistakenly put in the package.

The photos are from a trip made by four women.

They are dated June 26 to 29 but again there no contact details.

"Of all the millions of albums Kodak processes, what are the odds I get an album of Elvis photos just as I'm trying to get rid of another?" says Ms Gibson.

"It's weird, it sounds like I'm making it up."

She plans to send the new photos back to Kodak but the 10-year-old photos still need an owner.

"I don't want to be their custodian any more," she says.

"They must be important to whoever took them. Photos really become the trip after you get home. They are all you have left."

Ms Gibson has no desire to visit Graceland.

"I think I've seen enough of the place," she says.

Elvis died of an alleged heart attack at Graceland on August 16, 1977.

- © Fairfax NZ News