Some of the most famous items from Elvis Presley's home, Graceland, are to be taken on a tour of the US to mark the 25th anniversary of his death on Friday.

The Mobile Graceland Tour will give visitors the chance to see Elvis's US Army jacket, some of his stage outfits and a letter from President Richard M Nixon.

Other highlights include costumes Elvis wore in the film Viva Las Vegas and a comb which he used in the 1950s to shape his famous hair.

The tour begins in Memphis, Tennessee, this week, before moving on to Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, St Louis, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Atlantic City and Reno, Nevada.

Thousands of fans visit Presley's grave

"We have more artefacts than we have the space or time to display at Graceland," said Jennifer Burgess, director of marketing for Elvis Presley Enterprises.

"It grew out of the desire to share the Elvis experience with all those people who can't make it to Memphis for one reason or another."

Graceland attracts more than 650,000 visitors a year.

Meanwhile, organisers of Elvis Week said they expect up to 75,000 devotees to gather in Memphis to pay tribute.

Many are expected to appear at the Graceland mansion, where the rock and roll star died on 16 August 1977 of a heart attack, aged 42.

His birthplace is also a pilgrimage for fans

They will be able to file past his grave in the garden of his white-columned home on the outskirts of Memphis.

The city will see nine days' celebration of his life, beginning with a parade, videos of his performances, renditions of his music by impersonators and reminiscences by his friends.

Sun Studio, where Presley recorded his first songs as a teenager, will hold a party in the street in his honour.

His former wife Priscilla Presley and daughter Lisa Marie are expected to attend a concert on Friday.

Priscilla Presley made a name as an actress

The star has been hugely successful around the globe both before and after his death. Earlier this month Priscilla Presley unveiled plans to turn her romance with him into a musical.

Presley recently topped the UK charts for a record 18th time with a version of his track A Little Less Conversation.

The track, remixed by Dutch DJ Junkie XL, was Presley's first number one single since Way Down, which hit the top shortly after his death in 1977.