Elvis Presley as you've never seen him before

Photographs from early in Elvis Presley's career will now be published in a new book called "Elvis and the Birth of Rock and Roll." Many of the pictures have never been seen before. Keep clicking for a look at the photos, and read more from Anthony Mason's recent interview with the photographer, Alfred Wertheimer.

A cover of the collector's edition of the book "Elvis and the Birth of Rock and Roll." The book is filled with images Wertheimer captured on one of his first assignments as a photographer, for RCA Records. The job ended up being the job of a lifetime, allowing an intimate look at Elvis, before he became "The King."

Elvis Presley wasn't Elvis yet. The label had just signed the 21-year-old singer, and his first single "Heartbreak Hotel," was heading up the charts. Wertheimer was sent to take some publicity shots.

Limited to a total of 1,956 numbered copies signed by Alfred Wertheimer, "Elvis and the Birth of Rock and Roll" is available from Taschen as Collector

Elvis Presley performing on stage in 1956.

At one point during his shoot, Wertheimer lost his subject. And then he found him: Wertheimer said, "At the end of this long narrow hallway was a small window in the back with a 15-watt light bulb over their head I see two people."

Wertheimer began to shoot, moving closer and closer to the couple. Wertheimer said, "I thought it was pretty interesting."

Elvis allowed Wertheimer almost everywhere, including the bathroom. Elvis is seen here riding a motorcycle. Wertheimer spent 10 days with Presley and shot 2,500 photos of the artist -- and, he adds, "not all of them good."

Elvis at home in Memphis. Wertheimer, asked what's in this book that we haven't seen before, said, "You're seeing the images very intimately."

A color photo of Elvis making an appearance.

Elvis performing in March 1956 at New York City's Studio 50 (later renamed the Ed Sullivan Theater) on the "Tommy Dorsey and Jimmy Dorsey's Stage Show."