Today in History... Michael Jackson marries Lisa-Marie Presley

On this day in 1994, the King of Pop married the daughter of the King of Rock 'n' Roll - a match which, in theory, could have been one made in music heaven.

Nevertheless, only 19 months passed before the bridge and groom, Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley, filed for divorce.

Today, if the marriage has one lasting legacy then it is its memorabilia.

In January of this year, the original marriage certificate from Jackson and Presley's wedding, signed on May 26, 1994 in the Dominican Republic, auctioned for a massive $70,800.

The 8 ½ inch x 10 ¾ inch laminated document bears the autographs of both stars, and was also signed by State Official Hugo F Perez.

This rare and unusual item was sold by Philip Weiss Auction - and was at the time described by some as one of the most important celebrity documents of the 20th century.


Jackson and Presley's signed $70,800 wedding certificate

Its status as an iconic piece of memorabilia has been compared to the wedding licenses of Prince Charles and Princess Diana, and Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio.

Some 200 collectors took part in the sale, with another 1,000 bidders participating online. The Jackson-Presley certificate eventually sold to an online bidder.

Meanwhile, values of handwritten Jackson memorabilia have skyrocketed since his death in July of last year.

For instance, during the singer's lifetime, Andy Warhol's pop art portraits of Jackson had underperformed at auction. One sold for $278,000 in May 2009, while another was left without a buyer.

However, in the month following the King of Pop's death, a Jackson print by Warhol realised a massive $1 million at an auction in New York.

Later, in November, 2009, the star's handwritten lyrics to Beat It, his early-'80s hit single, sold for $60,000, also in the Big Apple.

 

 

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