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I spoke with my marketing friend Diane Carnevale Jones last week and she had the entire scoop about next month's big celebrity sale event in Las Vegas for all the personal items from the Jackson family about to be sold on the auction block.

She certainly should know the scoop, since she's the publicist for www.liveauctioneers.com, the firm that will facilitate the online bidding options, with the help of eBay.

On May 30 and 31, Guernsey's Auction House will auction an extraordinary collection of material representing the personal belongings of Michael, Janet, Jermaine, Tito, La Toya, and other members of the high-profile Jackson family. The Jacksons Auction will be held at the famed Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. Of course, Michael has been vocal this month about his displeasure that so many of what he considers "personal items" are being included in the sale.

According to the sale description my friend provided, "The Jacksons Collection" consists of a wide array of unique and personal items acquired by the company Universal Express, which describes itself as "revolutionizing the way luggage is transported in the United States and around the world." It is giving a portion of the proceeds to charities yet to be named.

As for the sale catalogue, it reads: "The collection contains thousands of items from the 'King of Pop' and his talented siblings from as far back as their first appearances as The Jackson Five on through the early 1990s. Fabulous stage costumes and personal clothing, props and instruments, awards, gold records and paper ephemera (from performance contracts and unpublished photographs to handwritten music), on to items given to Michael and his brothers and sisters by other legendary entertainers and sports superstars make up only a portion of this unprecedented collection."

And for those eager to bid and who don't want to fly out to Sin City to attend, they can participate through LiveAuctioneers.com, the Manhattan-based facilitator of eBay Live Auctions, which will provide live online bidding for the auction.

The entire collection up for sale may be viewed at www.LiveAuctioneers.com, where bidders can immediately leave absentee bids or sign up to participate via the Internet during the live auction.

As for some of the favorite Jackson items up for sale:

1. Michael Jackson's Black crested jacket

2. Michael Jackson's Black Fedora

3. Janet Jackson's Mae West Costume

4. Michael Jackson's Handwritten Song Lyrics with Notations

5. Michael Jackson's Wireless Microphone

6. Randy Jackson's Stage worn boots, 1984

7. USA For Africa MTV Video Music Award, 1985

8. "I want you back," Original Test Pressing, '69

9. Marlon Brando Telegram to Michael, 1984

10. Michael Jackson-signed Charlie Chaplin drawing

11. Michael Jackson "Thriller" Gold Award, 1982

12. Marlon Jackson Glitter Performance jacket

13. Jackson 5 "Sonny & Cher Show" Costumes, 1974

14. Michael Jackson's Bill Whitten Red & Gold Coat, '80s

15. "Victory Tour" Program Signed individually by the Jacksons

16. Handwritten "ABC" Lyrics by Tito Jackson

17. Michael Jackson-autographed "Rock with You" sheet music

Guernsey's Auction House is known for extraordinary sale events of the past such as those featuring items from such notables as John F. Kennedy, Elvis Presley, Jerry Garcia and Mickey Mantle.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at ppotempa@nwitimes.com or 219.852.4327.

celebBirthdays

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