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Saturday, 2 June 2007, 10:39 GMT 11:39 UK

Jackson sale nears the $2m mark

In pictures: Jackson memorabilia sale

Michael Jackson jacket Memorabilia from the Jackson family pop dynasty has sold for between $1.5m (£750,000) and $2m (£1m) during a two-day auction in Las Vegas.

Among the items snapped up was a black military-style coat belonging to Michael Jackson, which sold for $24,000 (£12,131) according to the auctioneers.

Jackson's MTV music award for song We Are The World fetched $16,000 (£8,087).

The Guernsey's Auction House sale at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino had over 1,100 items on offer.

It billed the two-day auction as the biggest-ever sale of Jackson family memorabilia, including clothes, music sheets and gold disc awards belonging to Michael, Janet, Jermaine, Tito and La Toya.

The final sales tally is still being calculated but the figure is expected to be between $1.5m (£750,000) and $2m (£1m). Some of the proceeds will go to charity.

The Jackson collection was sold by Universal Express Inc, a luggage company, which acquired the items last March.

Signed picture of Michael Jackson

"We are thrilled with the results of this initial auction," said Richard Altomare, Chairman and CEO of Universal Express.

"But most importantly, I am excited for the children's charities that will be benefiting from the outcome, and feel proud that we could help these vital organisations," he added.

A 1960s ID card belonging to Michael Jackson, identifying him as a Motown Records artist, was sold for $9,000 (£4,550).

A glittery jacket owned by the pop star went for $19,000 (£9,600), while a 1984 telegram from the late actor Marlon Brando to Jackson sold for $1,600 (£800).

Jackson memorabilia

The company's collection includes other Jackson items, such as master tapes of hundreds of songs, some never released - Mr Altomare said they will be sold at a later date.

"We have two times the number of items here still in our warehouse," he added.

The company bought the entire collection for $5m (£2.5m) and spent $2m (£1m) transporting them.

The date and location of the second auction will be announced shortly.

"We still have many items that fans and collectors will be very interested in purchasing," Mr Altomare said.

Jackson initially opposed the auction but the matter was then resolved amicably.

Other items that were sold include gold discs for Jackson's Off the Wall album and the Jackson 5 single I want You Back - they fetched $11,000 (£5,560) each.

But a copy of the contract for Michael Jackson's purchase of his Californian ranch Neverland in 1987 was bought for just $100 (£50).

A platinum record for his hit song Billie-Jean also sold for $100 (£50).




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Related to this story:
In pictures: Jacksons memorabilia sale (28 May 07 |  In Pictures )
Jackson drops auction challenge (19 May 07 |  Entertainment )
Jackson memorabilia to go on sale (06 Apr 07 |  Entertainment )
'Talks to settle' Jackson case (06 Jan 06 |  Entertainment )
Jackson fights for memorabilia (20 Apr 04 |  Entertainment )

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