Michael’s gifts are up for sale

Michael was generous and loved giving gifts. For 30 years, Betty Alonso has kept a shiny scarf belonging to one of the Jacksons’ tours that Michael sent to her. She was 12 when, after the group’s concert ended in Caracas, Venezuela, she met Michael up close, and then Michael sent her this keepsake scarf. Alonso, a mother of three, has decided to give this scarf and the handwritten note belonging to Michael that is attached to it to Julien’s Auctions, so that it can be sold at the November 21 auction at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York along with other Michael memorabilia. "I keep his memory in my heart and mind." But she can use the money to cover the costs of her children’s private school. She is one of 30 fans, collaborators, or family members of Michael Jackson who have contacted Julien’s Auctions and offered their memorabilia for sale. Julien, who is in charge of this auction house, says: "Michael was very generous. If you were a friend of Michael Jackson or an important person in his life, he would sometimes give you something as a gift. And that’s a big reason for putting these items up for public sale." And of course, this auction allows people around the world to see photos of Michael in ways that have never been seen before. For example, the guitar that Michael played once in 1978 is also part of the auction, but along with this guitar, photos of Michael playing the guitar are offered—something that has rarely been seen. Michael was a singer and performed on stage, but not with a guitar. A Mercedes-Benz gifted by Michael is also being sold. This Benz is a 1985 model, and after receiving it on her birthday, Michael’s aunt changed the car’s license plate so that the words “Thank you, Michael” could be seen on it. Michael drove it, but as Julien puts it: "Who has ever seen Michael driving? He always had a driver." This Benz has a powerful music player and its windows are tinted. But perhaps the strangest item among these memorabilia is the wedding candy of Michael and Lisa Marie Presley. Julien says he accepted the candy because it reminded him of the wedding cake piece from Princess Diana and Prince Charles, which he had sold years earlier at auction for $7,000. Julien considers the black hat that Michael wore on stage to perform at the 1995 MTV Awards one of the notable items in this auction. That same year, the hat was donated for sale at a charity by Lisa Marie Presley. Julien says the letter attached to the hat was signed with the name “Lisa Marie Presley Jackson.” Julien says: "As far as I know, there are only a few letters that she signed with her full name." Julien says that if Michael had simply passed by something, then that item is valuable to his investors and fans. "I think Michael is looking at us from up there right now, and he knows that there are many people who want a piece of him." Source: eMJey / Julien Auction