Profiles in History to auction Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley items

Profiles in History, the world's leading auctioneer of Hollywood memorabilia has added several fantastic items to their upcoming $5,000,000 auction, taking place October 8-9, 2009. Among them are 11 lots of original stage-worn performance costumes from the early period of Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 brothers' career with Motown Records. (*Costumes range from $3,000-$50,000). Also available is a 1976 yearbook signed by Michael to a fellow classmate at Cal Prep School ($*2,000-$3,000). Because there were only 90 students in this exclusive school, very few of these yearbooks are thought to still exist.

These items complement Profiles in History's extraordinary Michael Jackson Collection, which includes the iconic illuminating white glove adorned with crystals from his "Suit of Lights" that Jackson wore on stage during The Jackson's Victory Tour (*$60,000-$80,000).

Profiles in History will also present several key Elvis Presley items, including his personal Martin D-28 guitar, used on stage in his final Las Vegas performances (*$60,000-$80,000). Also added to the auction are the karate gi worn and owned by Elvis Presley and used as the model for the McCormick Distillery whiskey decanter (*$25,000-30,000) and an original Elvis Presley gold lightning bolt "TCB" necklace given by Elvis to his karate training partner Wayne Carman (*$18,000-$22,000).

Worldwide bidding begins at 12:00 PM (noon) both days and can be placed either in person, via mail, phone, fax or live on the Internet at:
http://www.icollector.com/Hollywood-Auction-37_as14988

*conservative sale estimate

MICHAEL JACKSON COSTUMES
The eleven lots represent a rare selection of original stage-worn performance costumes from the early period of Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5 brothers' careers with Motown Records. The Jackson 5 burst onto the scene in December of 1969 and took America by storm, becoming the first act in recording history to have their first four major label singles reach the top of the charts. Within a year of their debut, the Jackson 5 was among the biggest names in popular music, fueled by the soulful, emotional expression of an 11 year old Michael Jackson.

The Jackson 5 had a distinctive look created by designer Boyd Clopton. The costumes were bold, bright, animated and striking - like The Jackson 5 themselves. The Jackson 5 also had a number of iconic costumes created by International Costume Company beginning in 1972. Many of the costume pieces were intermixed and overlapped from one performance to another so they didn't always wear the same sets together to keep a fresh look, as illustrated by these reference photos. The costumes were worn for promotion, photo shoots and live stage performances.

These special, truly one-of-a-kind costumes defined the early explosive and innocent career of Michael Jackson and The Jackson 5. Acquired from the private collection of Rick Pikrone's Studio Wardrobe Department, a Hollywood vintage clothing and memorabilia boutique who has supplied clothes for hundreds of movies, television shows and celebrities over the years. Each lot comes with a signed letter of authenticity by Rick Pikrone.

Original Cal Prep School 1976 yearbook signed by Michael Jackson
This is a Cal Prep School yearbook for 1976. It comprises approximately 68 pages and is inscribed and signed by Jackson in black ink at the lower right corner of the front cover, "To a really nice girl. Love, Michael Jackson". This small, exclusive school had only 90 students in the entire school and, of this scarce yearbook publication, very few have survived. Michael is pictured in the class pictures section. This is the only known yearbook signed by Michael Jackson. An incredible piece of early Jackson memorabilia. Includes a LOA from the yearbook's owner and classmate who had Michael sign it in 1976.

Elvis Presley's personal Martin D-28 guitar stage-used in his final Las Vegas performance
This Martin D-28 model guitar (serial number 361827), was used by Elvis in his last Las Vegas stage performances at the Las Vegas Hilton from December 2-12, 1976. In January, 1977 Elvis presented this Model D-28 guitar to his bodyguard, Sam Thompson. The guitar features a blonde wood finish and exhibits some plastic residue on the back of the guitar body resulting from, what Elvis relayed to Thompson, a portion of the belt on his stage jumpsuit melting from the hot stage lights.

Following Elvis' death, Thompson sold the guitar in 1978 to The National Enquirer to fund his college education. The National Enquirer presented "The Elvis Guitar" to Cheryl Schmerr who won a national contest of over 60,000 entries in a well-publicized event hosted by the tabloid.

The guitar, with original case, is accompanied by a notarized letter signed by Sam Thompson, along with a notarized copy of a letter from Elvis' father, Vernon E. Presley, dated January 4, 1978, attesting that his son gave Thompson the Martin D-28 the previous year while at Graceland. Also comes with a color photograph of Elvis performing on stage with this guitar.

Without question, one of the most significant guitars to ever reach the market and accompanied with exceptional provenance.

Karate Gi worn and owned by Elvis Presley, used as the model for the McCormick Distillery whiskey decanter
Original karate gi personally owned by Elvis Presley, in white with red trim and adorned with many embroidered patches, including the chest insignia "TCB" ("Taking Care of Business") with motto "Faith - Spirit - Discipline". The gi includes Elvis' seventh degree black belt, which is embroidered "Elvis Presley". Vernon Presley and Colonel Parker gave this gi to McCormick Distilleries to produce a decanter in Elvis' likeness, as part of a series of celebrity decanters. In 1982, McCormick donated the gi to the Jim Reeves Museum in Nashville, TN where it was displayed until sold in 1996.

Comes with copies of several letters of provenance tracing the history of the garment and its use by McCormick, as well as a certificate of authenticity from Jimmy Velvet.Original Elvis Presley gold lightning bolt "TCB" necklace given by Elvis to his karate training partner Wayne Carman

The "TCB" pendant (Elvis' creed, "Taking Care of Business") features a lightning bolt in gold with attached gold rope chain. Elvis gave this necklace to his friend and Karate training partner, Wayne Carman. In the accompanying LOA, Carman states the necklace was given to him by Elvis in the early 1970s during one of their Karate workouts.

Carman continues, "Elvis was a Tiger and I was a Lion in the martial Arts. Initially, Elvis wanted to give me his Lion Claw necklace, because I had admired it one night during a class. I refused his generosity at the time and told him that his friendship was gift enough.The next time I saw him he gave me my T.C.B. necklace. As he gave it to me, he said, 'Wayne, this is an act of friendship, so you can't refuse it!'

Carman states he later had the necklace enhanced with diamonds. Also includes a signed hardbound copy of Carman's book, Elvis's Karate Legacy: The Untold Story of Elvis Presley's Faith, Spirit, and Discipline, with lengthy inscription discussing Elvis giving him this necklace.

For more information about Profiles in History and to download a complete catalog of the 1000+ items that will be offered for sale at this auction, please visit
www.profilesinhistory.com
or http://www.icollector.com/Hollywood-Auction-37_as14988.

About Profiles in History:
Founded in 1985 by Joseph Maddalena, Profiles in History is the world's leading auctioneer of Hollywood memorabilia. Profiles in History has held some of the most prestigious and successful auctions of Hollywood memorabilia. Their auctions include costumes, props and set pieces from both vintage and contemporary film, television, and rock 'n roll.

Profiles in History's location in Calabasas Hills, CA- virtually a stone's throw away from every major Hollywood studio - ensures a constant flow of fantastic and rare artifacts. With an extensive network of dealers, collectors, and public & private institutions, they are proud to play an important role in the preservation of motion picture history.

Prior Profiles in History Hollywood auctions highlights include the "Cowardly Lion" costume from The Wizard of Oz ($805,000); a full-scale model T-800 Endoskeleton from Terminator 2: Judgment Day ($488,750); a T.I.E. Fighter filming miniature from Star Wars ($402,500); a King Kong six-sheet movie poster ($345,000); the Command Chair from the "U.S.S. Enterprise" ($304,750); Harrison Ford's hero blaster from Blade Runner ($258,750); the original "Robot" from Lost in Space ($264,500); Luke Skywalker's lightsaber ($240,000); a Frankenstein one-sheet movie poster ($212,400); the Black Beauty car from The Green Hornet ($192,000); George Reeves' Superman costume from The Adventures of Superman ($126,500); the H.R. Giger designed Alien creature suit from Alien ($126,500); a full-scale T-Rex head from Jurassic Park ($126,500), the Leaping Alien Warrior figure from Aliens ($126,500), Christopher Reeve's 'Superman' costume from Superman: The Movie ($115,000), C-3PO's helmet ($120,000), The Wizard of Oz 'Winkie' Guard Costume ($115,000); a "Ming the Merciless" cape from Flash Gordon ($115,000) and the Hydraulic screen-used Velociraptor from The Lost World: Jurassic Park II ($115,000).