The original Polaroids taken for the cover of Michael Jackson’s Thriller album are being auctioned under copyright.
The five test photos are of the superstar singer taken by celebrity photographer Dick Zimmerman for the 1982 album cover.
Thriller became one of the world’s best-selling albums, with an estimated 70 to 110 million copies sold worldwide.
In the photo of Michael Jackson selected for the cover, he is lying on a counter, wearing a white jacket and pants and a black top.
A nearly identical Polaroid photo is included in the series of five test photos Zimmerman took for the shoot.
In the photo of Michael Jackson selected for the cover, he is lying on a counter, wearing a white jacket and pants and a black top. A nearly identical Polaroid photo is included in the series of five test photos Zimmerman took for the shoot
Michael Jackson with a baby tiger. The image is from the series of five test photos Zimmerman took for the shoot
Famed photographer Dick Zimmerman poses next to the artwork for the Thriller album
The chosen test photo of Michael Jackson was taken less than a minute before Zimmerman created the version of the pose that producer Quincy Jones recommended for the legendary album cover.
The other four are alternate cover shots, including him holding a tiger cub, that were never used.
In the pre-digital era, Polaroid test shots were often used by professional photographers.
They provided a quick way to preview a scene before capturing it on film.
Zimmerman is now selling the five Polaroid photos in a once-in-a-lifetime sale, along with the Hasselblad 500ELX camera he used that day.
The photos are sold under copyright, which means the winning bidder can reproduce them commercially.
Zimmerman recalled that Michael Jackson was “camera shy and polite” on the day of the shoot.
He said: ‘I’ve never met anyone as polite as Michael. His childish manner was very interesting.
‘Michael had no ego. He was a very shy person. But when he took breaks from shooting, he would stand in front of a large mirror and perform dance moves, and he became a different person.
‘He was unusual, almost as if he came from another planet. His maturity showed when he performed.”
Michael Jackson poses in white. The photos are sold under copyright, which means the winning bidder can reproduce them commercially
Michael Jackson with a baby tiger. Zimmerman recalled that Michael Jackson was “camera shy and polite” on the day of the shoot
Michael Jackson poses in one of the test photos taken by Zimmerman
Zimmerman said that despite Jackson’s electrifying command of any audience during an onstage performance, the young star seemed camera shy during the photo shoot.
He said: ‘Michael had a little trouble facing the camera, believe it or not. To distract his attention from the camera, a tiger cub was brought in. It turned out to be a great distraction for him. His attention was completely focused on playing with it.”
The Polaroid test photo that helped create the album cover shot is expected to sell for £15,000 at auction.
The four alternate cover shots, including Jackson with tiger cub, are sold individually for £5,000 each.
The Hasselblad camera is valued at £15,000.
The sale is being conducted by Blackwell Auctions of Clearwater, Florida.
Edwin Bailey of Blackwell Auctions said: ‘The cultural importance of this collection of images, as well as the camera, really cannot be overstated.
‘The cover of Thriller is one of the most widely distributed and instantly recognizable photographs ever taken. It is a privilege to offer these Polaroids, as well as the camera that captured them.
Zimmerman took the cover photos with the Hasselblad medium format camera
“All items have been in Dick Zimmerman’s personal collection since 1982 and will make their auction debut on December 9.”
A letter of authenticity from Zimmerman is included with each of the Polaroid photos and the camera.
Zimmerman added, “As an artist, I am proud to have played a role in creating the best-selling album ever.
“No doubt, collectors of entertainment memorabilia and celebrity photographs will understand that the test photos and camera from the Thriller shoot are important pieces of music history.
‘Blackwell’s auction offers a unique opportunity to bid for them.’