The grand piano was adorned with 24-carat gold leaf by the rock icon's wife Priscilla as a wedding anniversary gift in 1968.

It has been on display at the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tennessee for years following Elvis' death in 1977 but is now going on sale.

Bosses at Julien's Auctions predict the instrument will sell for between $500,000 (£312,500) and $700,000.

Also up for auction is Ringo Starr's bass drum skin from The Beatles' famous first performance in America, on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.

The skin, which features the band's logo, was also used by Ringo at subsequent shows in New York and Washington, DC.

The auction is due to take place on 7 November (15).