Auctioning Off the Jacksons

04/05/2007 11:43 AM, E! Online
Joal Ryan

It is, the auctioneer said Thursday with no apparent pun intended, "a very thrilling collection."

Clothing, records and hand-written lyrics worn by, made by and/or scribbled by Michael, Janet and other Jacksons are among the estimated 2,000 Jackson family items to go on the auction block May 30-31 in Las Vegas.

The collection, to be sold in 1,100 lots at Vegas' Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, spans the 1960s to about 1990, according to Arlan Ettinger, president of the New York-based auction house, Guernsey's.

"These objects are noteworthy because they begin with the early days of the Jackson 5, and trace the steps of this remarkably talented family, [whom] we only wish well, by the way," Ettinger said.

The collection is being sold by Universal Express, a delivery and shipping company, Ettinger said.

Last December, Universal Express chairman and CEO Richard Altomare told the South Florida Business Journal that an auction of his company's then newly acquired Jackson assets could rake in as much as $50 million.

Universal Express acquired the collection by way of Henry Vaccaro, a New Jersey businessman, who acquired the collection in a court judgment against members of the Jackson family.

Michael Jackson, who unsuccessfully sued Vaccaro for control of the artifacts, is "extremely upset" by the planned auction in his new hometown, spokeswoman Raymone K. Bain told the Associated Press Thursday. The wire service indirectly quoted Bain as saying legal action was being considered.

Bain did not return calls for comment Thursday. Ettinger said he had not been contacted by anyone in the Jackson family, including Michael and Janet, who'd also fought Vaccaro's right to the belongings.

As previewed on Thursday's Today Show, items to go on the auction block include: the original 1969 test pressing of the Jackson 5's first Motown hit, "I Want You Back"; Tito Jackson's handwritten lyrics for "ABC"; a good-luck telegram from Marlon Brando to Michael Jackson on the kick-off of the Jacksons' 1984 Victory tour; custom-made boots worn on stage by Randy Jackson, the Jackson brother, not the American Idol judge, during a Victory show; and a Mae West-style costume worn by the pre-teen, pre-wardrobe-malfunctioning Janet Jackson during her brothers' 1970s Las Vegas act.

It was not known if two pairs of Michael Jackson-worn Calvin Klein briefs reportedly probed by investigators in 2004 while the entertainer was facing child-molestation charges were among the lots.

Guernsey's previously has worked on memorabilia auctions with the estates of Elvis Presley and baseball-great Mickey Mantle. Ettinger acknowledged the Jacksons come with a bit more baggage.

"Will it be our biggest event yet?" Ettinger said. "I don't know."

But Ettinger sounded as if he had a hunch.

"There's no denying the remarkable feelings people still have for him," Ettinger said of Michael Jackson, adding of the family, "there's a lot of interest in these folks."

It only remains to be seen how much interest there is in their clothing.