Don't be cruel to Elvis records

Handle with kid gloves those old Elvis singles being dug out of the loft to mark the 25th anniversary of the King's death this week.

Don't scratch the vinyl, toss aside the original sleeve, or press too hard on that delicate triangular centre.

And if by any chance you stumble across a real rarity among those stacks of 45s or American re-issues, don't even play it. Even the tiniest scratch is enough to slash its value. Elvis notched up 18 number ones and his singles were produced in such vast numbers that even surviving copies in good nick are worth only a few pounds.

And beware of re-releases - the original Sun discs bear the original low numbers: 209 in the case of That's All Right.

The top five most valuable

? I'll Be Back (RCA) - 25 copies pressed for members of Motion Picture Academy. One of three surviving copies fetched £7,000

? TV Guide Presents Elvis Presley (RCA 1956) - £3,800

? That's All Right (Sun 1954) - £550

? Milkcow Blues Boogie (Sun 1955) - £550

? Good Rockin' Tonight (Sun 1955) - £450 Elvis 45 rpm singles in mint condition are: