Some may call it macabre, but Michael Jackson fans are in a bidding war to buy a piece of memorabilia reportedly connected to the superstar's death -- a black surgical mask he was reportedly wearing shortly before he passed away.
According to the Nate D. Sanders auction site, the mask comes with "a letter of provenance" from Jackson's personal bodyguard.
"This is the mask that covered the singer's nose and mouth in these last 24 hours of his extraordinary life, and contains visible traces of his makeup," the auction declares. "The mask, especially made for Jackson, is made of silky fabric sewn in a pleated design, and the pleat folds are relaxed in the center area due to wear. A single dark strand of Jackson's hair accompanies the mask."
As of 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, only seven bids had been placed, with the highest at $21,190.
The seller told TODAY.com he anticipates Jackson's mask will fetch at least $50,000.
The auction ends April 30.
Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.
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Online: www.NateDSanders.com
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