The pop memorabilia market received a further boost in November with Christie's sale of Madonna's Blond Ambition tour corset for £32,450 ($51,920), a 116.3% increase on the £15,000 high valuation.
The same sale starred Mick Jagger's 1972 jumpsuit, which made £20,000 ($32,075).
They are two of the latest examples of the pop memorabilia market's increasing value - although the Stones may argue over the use of the word "pop".
 Michael Jackson's Thriller jacket sold for $1.8m in 2011 |
Yet for those approaching the sector from an investment angle, it's important to note that only the true stars of the genre, those who will still be talked about in 50 years' time, can be classed as having bona fide investment potential.
In this category we can place Madonna and the Rolling Stones alongside Elvis, the Beatles and Michael Jackson.
The PFC40 Autograph Index, which tracks the prices of 40 of the most regularly traded autographs, is a useful tool in gauging the rising value of these names. Between 2000 and 2012 it found:
- Elvis Presley: up 13.0% pa
- Beatles: up 13.5% pa
- Rolling Stones: up 16.1% pa
- Michael Jackson: up 19.6% pa
- Madonna: up 8.1% pa
While all five routinely achieve excellent results at auction, Michael Jackson items have been particularly strong since his passing in 2009, which has capped the market for his memorabilia. Jackson's Thriller jacket auctioned for $1.8m in 2011. December's auction of one of his Beat It jackets will be a further test of this exciting sector.
One of the intriguing possibilities to join this list in time is a certain Lady Gaga. Her flamboyant image and worldwide success (hers is the first Twitter account to top 30m followers) make her stand out from the crowd when it comes to potential investment in the latest crop of pop stars' memorabilia.
Her memorabilia is already achieving strong results, with an angular dress she wore for a photo shoot selling for $31,250 in 2011.
For now, however, we would urge caution to ascertain whether Gaga's career will have sufficient longevity to see her memorabilia endure as a sound investment.
