Talk about timing...
As Michael Jackson's doctor awaits sentencing after being found guilty of 'involuntary manslaughter' in the wake of the singer's death, Julien's auctions has announced a sale of the King of Pop's belongings on December 17 - including the queen-sized bed in which he died.
According to Entertainment Weekly, journalists were already being shown round the singer's home as Dr Conrad Murray received his verdict in court. Jackson lived in the chateau until his death in December 2008, having moved from his Neverland ranch some years previously.
Sofas and paintings will also feature in the sale, all taken from Jackson's former address 100 North Carolwood Drive situated in California's Holmby Hills.
 Two years after his death aged 50, Michael Jackson continues to rock |
Apparently, Jackson's estate has forbidden Julien's from using the singer's name to promote the sale. But this surely won't perturb the media.
Aside from the bed, other items of interest to collectors include a Maurice Utrillo watercolour and a Louis XVI-style mirror. Also among the artworks is a Ludolf Bakhuizen paintings.
Other items mooted for sale include a chalkboard with a note from one of Jackson's children. It read: "I (heart) Daddy ... SMILE, it's for free." Another note allegedly written by the singer himself alluded to his This Is It concerts which were planned for London's O2 arena in July 2009.
Meanwhile, Jackson's bed isn't the only popular-yet-unusual collectible of his to emerge on the memorabilia markets.
Only collectibles retailer asmallpieceofhistory.com is presently offering you your very own piece of the King of Pop... his hair. The hair originates from the infamous Pepsi commercial, Jackson's hair was set of fire during a filming accident.
 Previously blockbuster Julien's sales included this Michael Jackson |
Executive producer for the Pepsi commercial, Ralph Cohen, was the first to own the hair following the accident. He can been seen in the famous video of the incident helping to save Jackson from the flames by extinguishing them with his Armani jacket.
Two years since his death aged 50, Michael Jackson's posthumous earning potential shows no signs of abating. Forbes recently reported that the singer is still topping its annual "Top-Earning Dead Celebrities" list.
Over the past 12 months Jackson's estate brought in $170m from sales of his music and his stake in the Sony/ATV catalog. In fact, Jackson is second only to the very-much-still-alive U2 in the earning stakes.
Jackson's ongoing success is also reflected in the auction markets. A year after his death, a crystal glove worn by the King of Pop during his Bad Tour in the 1980s sold for a not-Bad $330,000 in Beverly Hills, at a sale also held by Julien's.
