By coincidence, Michael Jackson items up for auction

By Sarah Feldberg

Thursday, June 25, 2009 | 8:07 p.m.

Lot 328 is a single sheet of paper with handwritten lyrics for the 1987 hit song “Bad.” Lot 335 is an original painting by Michael Jackson of Mickey Mouse conducting a singing Pluto, his name signed in black and white in the bottom right corner.

Lot 323 is a sheer white shirt adorned with pearls and Swarovski crystals that was worn by Michael Jackson on his 1984 Victory Tour. In Julien’s Auction’s summer sales catalogue, to be auctioned off June 26-27 on the mezzanine floor of Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, the shirt’s value is estimated at $1,000-$1,500. After the news of Jackson’s death today at a Los Angeles hospital, however, it’s likely the Jackson-worn shirt will go for substantially more.

Julien’s annual Planet Hollyood-hosted auction of celebrity memorabilia kicks off tomorrow with lots from both the King of Pop and the King himself, Elvis. While the timing is impeccable, the auction was planned well in advance of Jackson’s passing today. The 21 Jackson- and Jackson 5-related auction items, which include vintage photos of Jackson from the ‘70s, early concert posters and Jackson-worn costumes, are expected to be sold Friday between 2-5 p.m. There are no reserves.

Julien’s auction house, which does only “high-profile entertainment auctions,” according to President and CEO Darren Julien, was also recently hired to clear out the contents of Michael Jackson’s Neverland Valley Ranch in California.

However, Jackson sued to stop the sale, eventually settling with Julien’s, allowing them to photograph and catalogue the ranch’s contents after the foreclosure auction was canceled in May 2008.

“We expect them to do very well,” Julien said of the Jackson lots that will be auctioned off tomorrow on the Strip. “I’m interested in that stuff, but it’s also very upsetting that he died, just because we’d worked so closely with him. I’m still in shock. It doesn’t feel like a reality, to be honest.”