Jackson records, costumes, lyrics set for sale in Vegas

Platinum records, flashy costumes and personal letters that once belonged to the Jackson family were among more than 1,100 lots unpacked for display in Las Vegas Sunday in advance of their auction this week.

Dubbed "The Fabulous Jacksons Auction," the sale is set to roll out Wednesday and Thursday at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

The sale of thousands of items from Michael, Janet, La Toya, Jermaine and other members of theJackson family of performers is "a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence," said Guernsey's auction house president Arlan Ettinger.

"I cannot imagine that somewhere down the road some other collection could come out of the woodwork and rival this. It's not going to happen."

Items that will cross the block range from several of Michael Jackson's glittery, military-inspired jackets, a contract detailing his $30-million US purchase of the California ranch that would become Neverland and a personal letter from Marlon Brando.

Also to be sold is artwork depicting an apple-cheeked Janet Jackson in her youth, a dressand ballet shoesshe wore as a child performer and the hand-written lyrics to the JacksonFive hit ABC.

The auction is proceeding this week after a long battle in the courts that ended recently with an unnamed settlement. Initially, Michael Jackson's lawyers had attempted to block the sale.

Guernsey's officials have invited Jackson to this week's two-day sale, but it is unknown whether the reclusive,Las Vegas-based singer will attend.

The auction is being held on behalf of Universal Express Inc., a Florida luggage transportation company.

Universal Express bought the haul from New Jersey businessman and former Jackson family partner Henry Vacaro, who won possession of a warehouse full of memorabiliaafter a 2002 court case involving Michael Jackson's parents, Katherine and Joe, and his brothers Tito and Jermaine.